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A team of student volunteers on an archaeological dig in northern France has had a surprise communication from the past.

Sifting through the remains of a Gaulish village on cliff-tops near Dieppe on Monday, they uncovered an earthenware pot containing a small glass flask.

“It was the kind of vial that women used to wear round their necks containing smelling-salts,” said team-leader Guillaume Blondel, who heads the archaeological service for the town of Eu.

Inside the bottle was a message on paper, rolled up and tied with string.

On Tuesday evening, Mr Blondel opened the paper – which read as follows:

“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.”

Féret was a local notable, and municipal records confirm that he conducted a first dig at the site 200 years ago.

“It was an absolutely magic moment,” said Mr Blondel. “We knew there had been excavations here in the past, but to find this message from 200 years ago… it was a total surprise.

“Sometimes you see these time capsules left behind by carpenters when they build houses. But it’s very rare in archaeology. Most archaeologists prefer to think that there won’t be anyone coming after them because they’ve done all the work!”

The emergency dig was ordered because of cliff erosion at the spot just north of Dieppe. Already, a substantial part of the oppidum - or fortified village - has disappeared.

Mr Blondel said: “We knew it was a Gaulish village. What we don’t know is what went on inside the village. Was it a place of importance?"

In the week since the dig began, several artefacts dating from the Gaulish period - mostly pieces of pottery from around 2,000 years ago - have been uncovered.