Is this hole worth digging?

[BuckleBoy]

Hello All,


On Saturday I dug down for an iron signal in a plowed (corn stubble) field and found a layer of flat rocks. I removed a few of the rocks, and underneath there was ash mixed in with the soil, plus iron nails and scrap iron pieces, pottery, and glass. I kept a nice piece of stoneware from the hole (gray and blue stenciled).

I also saw something down there (at this point, I was 2 feet down--below plow depth) that I Never see in a plowed field: Lime. At least I think it is lime. It was small bits of chalky material mixed in with the dirt.

When I got to the bottom of the hole, there was clay, which I was unable to dig past.


We will likely be able to get permission to dig deeper in the field from the owners of the property--but my question is this: Should we dig it?


Were privies in rural areas capped in clay in some areas? And how thick was the cap usually? I didn't dig far enough out to find out if it was lined with either stone, wood, or brick.


I've heard a lot of folks say that rural privies aren't worth finding... Is this because there is usually very little in them in the way of glass, or is this because of the difficulty of locating them, or both?



Here are some photos of the layers I was into. The photo of my glove shows the chalky substance I found mixed into the soil all over the place about 2 feet down.


I appreciate your input--and thank you in advance,



-Buckleboy

[daytondigger]

I would dig it because finding a privy is half or more of the battle. Even if it were a country privy or a circa 1900 privy, you never know what they might have cleaned up out of the basement, barn etc. and tossed in. You already found one piece, so who knows what else they threw in there. Country privies are typically quite shallow, hard to find and have little material in them. Farmers reused bottles and jars and such until thet were broken and useless. But there are plenty of exceptions, I say dig it and let us know what you get. Good Luck!

[BuckleBoy]

I would dig it because finding a privy is half or more of the battle. Even if it were a country privy or a circa 1900 privy, you never know what they might have cleaned up out of the basement, barn etc. and tossed in. You already found one piece, so who knows what else they threw in there. Country privies are typically quite shallow, hard to find and have little material in them. Farmers reused bottles and jars and such until thet were broken and useless. But there are plenty of exceptions, I say dig it and let us know what you get. Good Luck!

Thanks for the reply, Dayton! I just re-hunted the spot, but just missed the owners on asking about the privy dig part. We have standing permission to MD there, but I want to ask specifically about a deeper dig.

But man, oh man did we find some Old coins! I'll post 'em late tonight.


I'd say we'll dig it out if the owners are OK with it. Thanks again.


Best wishes,


Buckles

[BuckleBoy]

Killer pipe, plehbah! Did you post that, or the other finds from that pit anywhere?


I would sell my sister into slavery for a clay pipe like that.

[BuckleBoy]

Thank you for the response, plehbah. This aspect of the hobby has started to interest me more and more. The chess piece that you posted is incredible. To a chess addict such as myself, that is quite a find. I am assuming that it is bone or ivory.


I have been in search of pits and privies in rural areas before, but have struck out. In rural areas, finding these is easier said than done.



I hope to dig out the one posted above soon.




Best Wishes,



Buckles

[jrsherman]

Another thing you might think about is a possible firepit. If you're in an area where there was troop movement, and since you're in KY I'm going to say it's possible , you could have stumbled onto a camp fire pit or, cross your fingers, a hut firepit. I'm really just throwing scenarios here, but you should definitely pursue the permission to dig in that case. You never know what you'll find until you dig it.

As far as lime goes, if you heat or bake limestone rocks, it will break down into Lime. That's what the Romans used extensively in their empire.

So I'd say you know three things there:
1) The rocks were probably either a fire base or ring
2) They were most likely cooked on or near(ash)
3) They were probably used more than once for Lime to occur

Someone correct me if I'm wrongfully thinking on any of these, I'm just trying to logic my way in this area. I agree with your statement that finding a privy in a rural area is easier said than done, and wandering into one blindly just seems all the more unlikely. If you think it's a hut though, thoroughly search the area around it, especially if you have a PI machine! Don't forget to dig that deep iron, and look for barrel bands and ration can pieces and the like!

Who knows? You may have a few nice bottles in there?

Just won't know until the shovel turns the soil! Good luck and happy hunting!

[Newt]

BB,
Dig the center down another foot past the Clay. Then use that probe I left with HB.
Good luck!
Newt

[allen]

hope you get permission,
looks like a good spot !