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 form 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 varied mental societies, carried out excavations right here in January 1825. He continues his investigations on this huge space referred to as the Cité de Limes or Caesar’s Camp.”
Féret was an area notable, and municipal information verify that he performed 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 prior 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 after they construct homes. However it’s very uncommon in archaeology. Most archaeologists desire to suppose that there gained’t be anybody coming after them as a result of they’ve performed 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.
