A time capsule containing a message left by a Norman archaeologist was discovered after a few shovelfuls in the town of Bracquemont in Seine-Maritime, during work. This exceptional find moved the researchers on site. Here is what this unusual discovery included.
A find that reveals the past
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, archaeologists working on the historic site of Caesar's camp, also called the city of Limes, in Seine-Maritime, a fortified enclosure on the edge of a cliff in Bracquemont, made an unusual discovery.
While carrying out excavations in this area dating from the Gallic era and known for its German trenches from the Second World War, with the aim of preventing the erosion of its coasts, Guillaume Blondel and his team came across a time capsule with a message.
Indeed, Pierre, one of the volunteers on site, gave the final blow of the shovel which made this discovery possible. Guillaume Blondel, recounts that the latter “ hit a ceramic pot buried in the ground ” he testified to the local media France 3. In this pot there was therefore this unexpected treasure, a time capsule left more than 200 years ago. He remembers the moment of the discovery “We were amazed…we were doing research, of course, but such a discovery is always a magical moment.”.
A message from another time
In this well-preserved ceramic pot were two coins and a small salt bottle dating from the 19th century. But what really struck the archaeologists was a handwritten message signed by Pierre Jacques Féret, a well-known Norman archaeologist of his time who himself is said to have conducted research on this site in January 1825.
The text was certainly not long, but heavy with meaning, it is written there “ PJ Féret, a native of Dieppe and member of several learned societies, excavated here in January 1825. He continued his research throughout this vast enclosure called the City of Limes or Camp of Caesar. ”.
Archaeologist Guillaume Blondel and his team were particularly touched when they read this letter, he explained, again to the local media:It's incredible to think that this man, two centuries ago, wanted to leave us this message.”.
This letter has all the more impact for Blondel who feels a connection, in fact the two men are linked by a common profession.
Linking past, present and future: Archaeologists’ communication
For now, the first analyses of the capsule are underway. But the team of researchers is already planning how they will present it to the public.
And to respect tradition, Nicolas Langlois, the mayor of Dieppe, Michel Barbier, the mayor of Eu, as well as Guillaume Blondel, decided in turn to write letters and place them in a container and bury it in the same place.
Without revealing more, the archaeologist explains that these are writings linked to the history of the site and to the teams who worked on these places, the latter is intended for future researchers who will find it in “200 years”.
A rare but not unique discovery
This event is not common but it is not a first. Indeed, in 2022, British archaeologists also discovered a 200-year-old capsule in a Cobalt mine in Manchester. In the latter, there was an inscription engraved with candle soot, in a press release published in the NationalTrust.
As a reminder, these objects buried voluntarily reveal a need and a necessity to leave a trace for future generations. And making discoveries this old remains rare, in fact the archaeologist explains “ I don't even know if there are any that old in France, but in any case it's a first for me and my team.”.
More recently, in mid-August 2024, two girls aged 8 and 13 discovered a letter dating from 1999 in a glass bottle not far from a river in Crécy-sur-Serre, in the Aisne. Since then, they have been investigating to find the authors of this message, which they have certainly managed to decipher but which does not contain any information that could guide them.
Sources : France 3, 20minutes, TendanceOuest, Patrimoine Dieppe, NationalTrust
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