World's oldest bottle of mineral water uncovered: 200-year-old corked Selters flask found deep within the Baltic sea
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The world's oldest bottle of mineral water has been uncovered from the depths of the Baltic Sea by Polish scuba divers
The world's oldest bottle of mineral water has been uncovered from the depths of the Baltic Sea by Polish divers.
The 200-year-old flask, described as in a 'good condition and still corked', has the name 'Selters' inscribed in its stoneware.
Polish archaeologists found the 12 inch (30cm) bottle in shipwreck lying 12.2 metres (40ft) below water in the Gdańsk Bay close to the Polish coast.
Produced between 1806 and 1830, the brown bottle is an extremely rare find as most sealed flasks from that period contain either beer or wine.
'We have not opened the bottle, we are not sure what it contains and what is the taste of the water which is 200 years old,' said Tomasz Bednarz, National Maritime Museum archaeologist.
Apart from the bottle, the team managed to recover parts of ceramics, a small bowl and a few pieces of dinnerware.
Dr Bednarz said that while it's likely the bottle contains original Selters water, he doesn't rule out the possibility it was filled with wine.
Selters is a German luxury mineral water brand which gained popularity with Europe's wealthy during the nineteenth century.
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The 19th century corked stoneware bottle is pictured here with underwater archaeologist Tomasz Bednarz
The 200 year-old flask has the name 'Selters' inscribed in its stoneware (left). Selters (right) is a German luxury mineral water brand, still sold today, which gained popularity with Europe's wealthy during the nineteenth century
Its springs were discovered around 1000 on the northern slopes of the Taunus mountain range, in Hesse, Germany.
Many people claim that a few sips of Selters water, also known as 'fluid treasure', can boost strength and health.
The springs of this mineral water went dry in the beginning of the 19th century and the characteristic stoneware bottles became rationed goods.
In 1896, a group of enthusiasts from Selters organised a quest in order to find springs of the legendary water.
Produced between 1806 and 1830, the brown bottle is an extremely rare find as most sealed flasks from that period contain either beer or wine. Pictured here is the team recovering the 19th Century bottle
The scuba divers prepare to jump into the waters of Gdańsk Bay which is close to the Polish coast
Archaeologists found the 12 inch (30cm) bottle in shipwreck lying 12.2 metres (40 feet) below water in the Gdańsk Bay close to the Polish coast
Apart from the bottle, the team managed to recover parts of ceramics, a small bowl and a few pieces of dinnerware
After making a number boreholes, a fountain of crystal clear water exploded from one of the wells below Laneburg castle.
Archaeologists hope the bottle will help identify the shipwreck in which it was found, which is currently only known only as F-33-31.
They suspect the ship may have been a cargo vessel used for transporting goods such as along the Baltic coast.
'So far, due to its preserved state and historical background, the stoneware bottle is our most valuable find,' said Dr Bednarz.
The envelope, visible through the bottle, shows Earl Willard's address and where the letter was sent from
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