A team of volunteers excavating an archaeological site in Normandy, France, this week found a “time capsule” from a 19th-century colleague who surveyed the region nearly 200 years ago.
“P.J. Féret, a native of Dieppe, member of several learned societies, carried out excavations here in January 1825,” said the message rolled up inside a glass jar. “He continues his research in this vast area known as the City of Limes either Caesar's Camp.”
The message was found while volunteers were carrying out an emergency excavation at the ancient Gallic village on a clifftop near the town of Eu, France, due to erosion on the hillside.
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The 19th century archaeologist PJ Féret left a message in a bottle at the Cité de Limes excavation site in 1825. (Eu City)
The message and its jar were found inside a clay pot in the Cité de Limes.
“It was an absolutely magical moment,” team leader Guillaume Blondel told BBC News. “We knew there had been excavations here in the past, but to find this message from 200 years ago… it was a total surprise.”
“P.J. Féret, a native of Dieppe, member of several learned societies, carried out excavations here in January 1825,” said the message rolled up inside a glass jar. “He continues his research in this vast area known as the City of Limes either Caesar's Camp.” (Eu City)
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He added: “You sometimes see these time capsules left by carpenters when they build houses, but this is very rare in archaeology. Most archaeologists like to think that there won't be anyone looking for them because they've already done all the work.”
The message was found by a team of volunteers surveying the site near Eu, France, in Normandy. (Eu City)
The Gauls were Celts who lived in continental Europe between approximately the 5th century BC and the 5th century AD.
The message and the jar were inside a clay pot. (Eu City)
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The municipality of EU posted photographs of the discovery on its Facebook page and wrote: “The excavations have provided, among other things, a moving and very special testimony. A message was discovered in a small 19th century salt jar accompanied by two coins; all contained in a ceramic jar. Located in a previously investigated area, it is a 'time capsule' buried almost 200 years ago.”
