A message from a 19th-century colleague came as a surprise to the archaeologists.

During archaeological excavations of a Gallic settlement near the city of Dieppe in northern France, students stumbled upon a clay jug containing a remarkable message.

The excavation leader, Guillaume Blondel, explained that inside the jug, they found a small glass vial, sealed with a note from an archaeologist who conducted excavations at the site 200 years ago. Blondel noted that the “time capsule” had perfectly preserved his colleague’s message.

“P.J. Ferré, a native of Dieppe and a member of various scientific societies, conducted excavations here in January 1825. He continues his research in this vast area known as Cité de Limes or Caesar’s Fortification,” the note read.

Blondel told reporters that the name of the archaeologist Ferré was familiar to him. He added that such notes are rarely left by archaeologists, making this discovery even more valuable.