Oldest football

During an excavation project at Stirling Castle, Scotland, UK in the mid-1970s, a grey, leather ball was discovered behind oak-panelling in a bedroom once used by Mary, Queen of Scots during her reign in the 16th century; it has since been declared the world's oldest football. The ball was re-discovered in 1999 in the archives of Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, and tests confirmed that it was 436 years old - created between 1540-1570. It is unknown if the Queen herself used the ball, what is more likely is that soldiers and staff played a type of handball with it in the castle courtyard. The ball is currently on display at the same museum.