- West Point historians conducted a live-streamed ceremony on Monday to open a nearly 200-year-old time capsule.
- To their surprise, the box was found to be empty except for some dust.
- The dust will be tested in order to determine what may have originally been inside the box.
Historians and an archaeologist at West Point were perplexed when they opened a nearly 200-year-old box believed to be a time capsule from Robert E. Lee’s cadet days, only to find it empty.
The United States Military Academy West Point live-streamed the ceremony on Monday, hoping to discover historic artifacts or other items inside the box.
The one-square-foot lead box was found last May inside a monument dedicated to Thaddeus Kosciuszko, placed there by cadets in 1828 according to the academy’s press release.
The US Military Academy West Point
Jennifer Voigtschild, West Point’s command historian, began the ceremony by asking, “What’s in that box?”
Before opening the box, Brigadier General Shane Reeves presented three possible scenarios: nothing, dust, or unknown historic artifacts.
To the amusement of the audience, the box was found to contain only dust.
The staff examined the box and discovered a manufacturer’s inscription on the lid, which they plan to research further.
US Military Academy West Point
“The box didn’t quite meet expectations,” said West Point archaeologist Paul Hudson.
Hudson speculated that there may have been small organic material in the box that decayed over time.
Further research will be conducted to determine the significance of the box and its connection to Thaddeus Kosciuszko.
“While the contents of the box remain inconclusive, opening it has provided new leads for researching the history of this Revolutionary hero and his monument,” said Jennifer Voigtschild.
West Point looks forward to future opportunities to explore and be inspired by its early history and legacy.
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