time capsule

American  

noun

1. a receptacle containing documents or objects typical of the current period, placed in the earth or in a cornerstone for discovery in the future.

---

time capsule British  

noun

1. a container holding articles, documents, etc, representative of the current age, buried in the earth or in the foundations of a new building for discovery in the future

---

Etymology

Origin of time capsule

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

“It’s a time capsule,” says their mom, Mel Morrow, 52, about their home.

From Los Angeles Times

"Chondrites are like time capsules from the dawn of the solar system," said Izidoro, assistant professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences at Rice.

From Science Daily

Schwartz has composed an American time capsule of Broadway pop, with as much variety as “Wicked” though with less bombast and no real standout blockbuster numbers.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet the printed documents still have value; they are pieces of history, time capsules worthy of rescue and celebration.

From The Wall Street Journal

One said they feared a “time capsule” they had installed near a window would be destroyed.

From Salon