A group of student volunteers on an archaeological dig in northern France contacted the past in an unexpected way, according to the BBC.

Sifting through the ruins of a cliff-top Galatian village near Dieppe, team members discovered a clay pot containing a small glass flask.

“It was the kind of vial that women wore around their necks that contained smelling salts,” said team leader Guillaume Blodel, head of the archaeological service for the city of Eu.

Inside the bottle was a message written on paper, wrapped and tied with string.

What did the archaeologist’s message say?

On Tuesday night, Bluddell opened the message, which read:

“PJ Féret, a native of Dieppe, member of various intellectual circles, excavated here in January 1825. He continues his investigations in this vast area known as the Cité de Limes or Caesar’s Camp.”

Féret was a notable local and municipal records confirm that he first excavated the site 200 years ago.

“It was a magical moment,” Mr. Bluddell said. “We knew there had been excavations here before, but to find this message, written 200 years ago… was a complete surprise.

“Sometimes you see these time capsules that carpenters leave behind when they build houses. But it is very rare in archaeology. Most archaeologists prefer to believe that no one will come after them because they have done all the work!’

The emergency excavation was ordered due to erosion of the rock at the site north of Dieppe. Already, a significant part of the oppidum – or fortified village – has disappeared.

Mr Bluddell said: “We knew it was a Galatian village. What we don’t know is what happened inside the village. Was it an important part?’

In the week since the dig began, several artefacts dating back to the Gallic period have been uncovered, mainly potsherds from around 2,000 years ago.