In a remarkable discovery, archaeologists in Normandy, France, have found a nearly 200-year-old message in a bottle during an excavation of the ancient Gaulish settlement known as Cité de Limes. The message, penned by P.J. Féret, an archaeologist from the early 19th century, was unearthed inside a small glass vial buried in an earthenware pot.
Féret’s note, dated January 1825, detailed his own archaeological explorations of the site, describing the area as Caesar’s Camp, a name commonly associated with ancient Roman and Celtic fortifications. The message, which was found alongside two old coins, was a surprising link between past and present excavators, according to the team leading the current dig.
“It was an absolutely magical moment,” said team leader Guillaume Blondel. “We knew there had been previous excavations here, but to find this personal message from nearly two centuries ago was completely unexpected.”
The discovery was made during an emergency dig at the site, which sits on a cliffside vulnerable to erosion. The excavation revealed a rich historical context, as the area was once inhabited by the Gauls, a Celtic people who lived in mainland Europe from around the 5th century B.C.E. to the 5th century A.D.
Blondel described the find as rare, noting that messages from past archaeologists are uncommon. “It’s like a time capsule. You often hear of carpenters leaving messages when they build houses, but it’s almost unheard of in archaeology.”
The town of Eu, where the Cité de Limes is located, shared news of the discovery on social media, calling the message a “moving and special testimony” from the past. The find has excited local historians and archaeologists alike, adding a new layer to the story of the ancient settlement and the people who sought to preserve its history.
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