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A group of volunteers excavating an ancient Gaulish site in Normandy, France, made a surprising discovery—a message in a bottle from 1825. The message was written by P.J. Féret, a 19th-century archaeologist who had surveyed the same site almost 200 years ago. The note, found inside a glass bottle placed in an earthenware jar, was uncovered at the Cité de Limes near the town of Eu during an emergency dig due to hillside erosion.
The message, preserved in a flask, read: “P.J. Féret, 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 Cité de Limes or Caesar’s Camp.” This clifftop village was once inhabited by the Gauls, a Celtic people who lived in Europe between the 5th century B.C. and the 5th century A.D.
The team’s leader, Guillaume Blondel, called the discovery "an absolutely magic moment," noting that while time capsules are sometimes found in construction projects, they are extremely rare in archaeology. The find, which included two coins alongside the message, was hailed as a moving piece of history. Photos of the discovery were posted on the town of Eu's Facebook page, sparking interest in this unique archaeological treasure.
This discovery highlights the continuity of historical investigations in France and the connections between past and present researchers at the Cité de Limes site.
[Source: Fox News]
