A workforce of pupil 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,” stated 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 often called the Cité de Limes or Caesar’s Camp.”
Féret was a neighborhood notable, and municipal data affirm that he carried out a primary dig on the website 200 years in the past.
“It was a fully magic second,” stated 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.
“Typically you see these time capsules left behind by carpenters once they construct homes. But it surely’s very uncommon in archaeology. Most archaeologists desire to assume 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 stated: “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 courting from the Gaulish interval – principally items of pottery from round 2,000 years in the past – have been uncovered.