Some do, which is why on the wiki you will see things like "This building has safe containers, but anything outside a chest will disappear." And things like that. But for items disappearing in the world it seems to take a bit longer. Just to be safe, don't drop ANYthing unless you know it is a safe cell/container. Unless you are fine with losing it.

Some do actually. The Dragonstone is a quest item (or rather it is used for a major quest, if it is actually flagged as one I'm not sure) and it weighs 25 lbs.

If you can't find it, or can't remember where you dropped it... its called consequence.

For all the trolls beating up 'thesda for not taking a more hardline stance on its RPG, I find it completely laughable that anyone can be mad about being able to lose important items. Does bug me some stuff can't be removed from inventory, but wutev's.

Word of advice, if you ever find another unique item like this in any other game :

Put it into a storage container that doesn't purge, hold on to it, or look up its use if you're unsure.

If you're only planning on one playthrough of Skyrim, you're going to miss out on approximately 80% of the game.

...it's a known bug that if you drop something on the ground and lose it that..you lose it? Lol?

Sure is a huge spoiler in here.

Well I have dropped a bunch of potions infront of the blacksmith in White Run and it has been there for around 2-3 weeks real time and they still are there, even after the invasion quest which I invaded White Run with the Stormcloak's. So you actually can get items from the floor if you drop them(i was just unsure about getting it from ANYWHERE in the world).

I had found one mask prior to the "wooden mask" and just thought: hm.. must be just a non-magical version.. I'll most likely find more of these. Then I sold it to a vendor. Then that vendor tried to fend off a dragon attacking his village. The vendor is dead now, and I am no longer able to retrieve the stupid mask. It's not lootable on his corpse either. Now I'm thinking: Oh well, still not that important. I'm level 79 now.

THIS WOODEN MASK HUMS WITH AN UNFAMILIAR ENERGY.

Chalk this one up to not paying attention , and yes it strikes you as a unique item to pay attention to because you won't encounter another like it anywhwere.This game rewards you for being inquisitive and observant.But then again , I like the fact you can actually read the books in this game and have actually read alot of them.I read the note , looked at the mask , read the description , made a game save just in case.Then I tired it on and freaked out out took it off left it there to figure out it's purpose later.Mostly because like you I was limited on weight at the time.The quest items you can't drop have no weight because they're wuest items.This isn't just a quest item it's a riddle for you to solve and you're rewarded well for it.The wooden mask has a description kind of like alot of other unique items in the game , everything else will just say crap like "torch" or "iron mace" those I've strewn all across skyrim , sometimes to my amusemant.

After I killed general Tullius I took his armor and threw iut at the forge in Whiterun by my house , still not quite sure why , but I like Whiterun the most.And still after saving the universe and carrying on for another 50 levels or whatever , the female blacksmith lady has been kicking his crap all over the place.So yeah , try to look for it , maybe your auto-saves screenshots can kind of help remind you of where you might have dropped it , otherwise it's not really a total game ender but I like completing things too just doing it.Sorry bo , but yeah this is my first ES game and the first thing it impressed me with was ,"OMG , I think I may have to actually really think saometimes playing this one."

Definetly true that this game makes you think, learned it the hard way over here. Read up on the last masks bonus's and it really didn't seem like a very good bonus so im not really that sad but im sad that i missed up on that riddle actually...

As some people suggested i will probably get it on another toon, most possibly the new mage i created

Just for other people out there, DONT DROP THIS MASK EVER ! and pay attention to every description and if you are not sure ask in the forums! you might just end up like me and feel disappointed.