A team of student volunteers on an archaeological dig in the remains of a Gaulish village near Dieppe, Northern France have uncovered an earthenware pot containing a small glass flask.
“It was the kind of vial that women used to wear round their necks containing smelling-salts,” said team-leader Guillaume Blondel, who heads the archaeological service for the town of Eu.
Inside the bottle was a message written on paper, rolled up and tied with string. It read: “P.J Feret, a native of Dieppe, member of various intellectual societies, carried out excavations here in January 1825. He continues his investigations in this vast area known as the Cite de Limes or Caesar’s Camp.”
Feret was a local notable and municipal records confirm that he conducted a first dig at the site 200 years ago. He created some of the first accurate topographical maps of the site and uncovered evidence that it had been a fortified Gallic town before later being used by the Romans.
“It was an absolutely magic moment,” said Mr Blondel. “We knew there had been excavations here in the past, but to find this message from 200 years ago… It was a total surprise.”
“Sometimes you see these time capsules left behind by carpenters when they build houses. But it’s very rare in archaeology. Most archaeologists prefer to think that there won’t be anyone coming after them because they’ve done all the work!”
It was also accompanied by two coins.
The dig was ordered as an emergency due to cliff erosion at the spot just north of Dieppe. A substantial part of the fortified village, or “oppidum”, has already disappeared.
Mr Blondel said: “We knew it was a Gaulish village. What we don’t know is what went on inside the village. Was it a place of importance?”
Since the dig began a week ago, several artefacts dating from the Gaulish period, mostly pieces of pottery from around 2,000 years ago, have been uncovered.