time capsule

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time capsule

A family buries a time capsule in their backyard.

Definition

Noun: 1. A container holding historical records or objects, buried or hidden for discovery in the future: A "time capsule" is a sealed container that stores items representative of a particular period (e.g., newspapers, photographs, coins, letters) with the intention that it will be opened by people in the distant future to provide insight into the era it came from.

Usage
  • A "time capsule" is typically buried during a ceremony for a significant event, such as the founding of a building, a school's anniversary, or a world's fair.
  • It serves as a message to the future, preserving a snapshot of contemporary life, culture, and technology.
Examples
  • The city buried a time capsule under the new town hall plaza to be opened in 100 years.
  • Our elementary school class contributed drawings and a current playlist to the time capsule.
  • Archaeologists discovered a time capsule from the 19th century hidden in a building's cornerstone.
Advanced Usage
  • Conceptual use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe anything that preserves the characteristics of a past era.
    • That vintage diner is like a time capsule of 1950s America.
  • Digital time capsule: In modern contexts, it can refer to digital archives or data stored with instructions for future access.
    • They created a digital time capsule containing social media posts from the year.
Variants and Related Words
  • Capsule (noun): In other contexts, a small container or case; in the context of a "time capsule," it specifically refers to the sealed unit.
  • Archive (noun): A collection of historical documents or records, but these are typically for ongoing access, not for future burial and discovery.
  • Cornerstone deposit (noun): A historical practice similar to a time capsule, involving placing items in a building's cornerstone during construction.
Synonyms
  • Historical cache
  • Future message
  • Sealed record
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • Sealed for posterity: This phrase captures the intent behind a time capsule, meaning preserved for future generations.
    • The artifacts were placed in the vault, sealed for posterity.
  • A message in a bottle: While typically referring to a literal bottle thrown into the sea, this idiom shares the conceptual idea of sending a message to an unknown future recipient, similar to a time capsule's purpose.
time capsule

A family buries a time capsule in their backyard.

Noun
  1. container for preserving historical records to be discovered at some future time