A staff of scholar volunteers on an archaeological dig in northern France has had a shock communication from the previous.
Sifting by the stays of a Gaulish village on cliff-tops close to Dieppe on Monday, they uncovered an earthenware pot containing a small glass flask.
“It was the type of vial that girls used to put on spherical their necks containing smelling-salts,” mentioned team-leader Guillaume Blondel, who heads the archaeological service for the city of Eu.
Contained in the bottle was a message on paper, rolled up and tied with string.
On Tuesday night, Mr Blondel opened the paper – which learn as follows:
“P.J Féret, a local of Dieppe, member of assorted mental societies, carried out excavations right here in January 1825. He continues his investigations on this huge space often called the Cité de Limes or Caesar’s Camp.”
Féret was an area notable, and municipal information verify that he carried out a primary dig on the web site 200 years in the past.
“It was a completely magic second,” mentioned Mr Blondel. “We knew there had been excavations right here up to now, however to seek out this message from 200 years in the past… it was a complete shock.
“Generally you see these time capsules left behind by carpenters once they construct homes. But it surely’s very uncommon in archaeology. Most archaeologists choose to suppose that there received’t be anybody coming after them as a result of they’ve completed all of the work!”
The emergency dig was ordered due to cliff erosion on the spot simply north of Dieppe. Already, a considerable a part of the oppidum – or fortified village – has disappeared.
Mr Blondel mentioned: “We knew it was a Gaulish village. What we don’t know is what went on contained in the village. Was it a spot of significance?”
Within the week for the reason that dig started, a number of artefacts relationship from the Gaulish interval – principally items of pottery from round 2,000 years in the past – have been uncovered.
