Historical Garbage Pits

[Cappy Z.]

Certainly somewhere there is a chronological list of how people say in America disposed of their 'garbage' from 1300 to 1900.(AD)

There must be thousands of places where old stuff is waiting to be uncovered.

Just a thought. Now where's my spiked gatoraid?

 

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[spartacus53]

That is an interesting thought I am sure there are some areas that may not hold a wealth of goodies from our past, but I think it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. I bet you could find some goodies with a dump from the early 20th century.

 

[jeff of pa]

First Landfill here was Just outside of Town.
about a Thousand feet from me.
The local Bottle digger got Tons of Bitters
out of it back in the 60's.

back yards were also used by those who didn't want
to make the walk I guess

I'm aware of where Most of the Towns
around here had their
Landfills not sure how many of them get worked.

 

[Cappy Z.]

Thanks Jeff and Spartacus for responding. I didn't offer the idea as a guessing game. I really believe there must be a mountain of artifacts buried almost anywhere if we know how these folks literally buried their 'trash'. There is a story here in Florida that a man named Bulow owned a plantation. For YEARS he dumped imported french wine bottles at the end of his river dockage. In spite of the alligator infested waters..there must be very valuable bottles hidden in the shallow muck.

Anybody ready to skin dive? lol

 

[ClonedSIM]

My thought that there weren't many garbage pits, per se, in the old world. Sure, there was trash generated, but not nearly like what we toss out today. People had a tendancy to use everything they owned until it was gone. Noteable exceptions, like bottles, can and are found, but not much else from that far back would even exist anymore.

 

[Cappy Z.]

My thought that there weren't many garbage pits, per se, in the old world. Sure, there was trash generated, but not nearly like what we toss out today. People had a tendancy to use everything they owned until it was gone. Noteable exceptions, like bottles, can and are found, but not much else from that far back would even exist anymore.

Absolutely correct.

However...their trash even pottery shards are very very valuable. I am inquiring if there is printed material available that discusses how these early peoples discarded waste. And I absolutely enjoy your comments.
CZ

 

[jeff of pa]

My thought that there weren't many garbage pits, per se, in the old world. Sure, there was trash generated, but not nearly like what we toss out today. People had a tendancy to use everything they owned until it was gone. Noteable exceptions, like bottles, can and are found, but not much else from that far back would even exist anymore.

yep with the Exception of Glass & some Plastic
everything else turns back to ground.


old Landfills are alot easier digging with a rake
compared to outhouses where you need to dig deep also.
most old landfills
are covered by natural cover

 

[spartacus53]

Several materials would survive, including those made of bronze. Even some old plastic articles may be of value. You have to remember ones mans trash is another mans gold. There are many cases even today where people don't know that value of the item they are dealing with, so keep an eye out for a good find.

 

[ClonedSIM]

My thought that there weren't many garbage pits, per se, in the old world. Sure, there was trash generated, but not nearly like what we toss out today. People had a tendancy to use everything they owned until it was gone. Noteable exceptions, like bottles, can and are found, but not much else from that far back would even exist anymore.

Absolutely correct.

However...their trash even pottery shards are very very valuable. I am inquiring if there is printed material available that discusses how these early peoples discarded waste. And I absolutely enjoy your comments.
CZ

Documentation would be interesting to read, and it may not be too hard to find. I'd wager that if you read a few Civil War descriptions, maybe some journals left by soldiers, there may be a mention of what they did with their refuse. Kind of like finding a needle in a haystack, but I'm sure someone wrote about them at some point.

 

[jeff of pa]

another not so old ( 50's 60's 70's )
around here anyway Stripping Pits
were used, Not only by People dumping their
Garbage, But by Clean-up Crews After Houses Burned.

There is one Pit here where it is Rumored the Remains
of a Mans Coin Collection Was Dumped along with the rest
of the Burnt Remains into the pit.

a friend of Mine Found a Purse Stuffed with rolls of Pennies
& Other Coins Scatterd all over the side of a Pit.

If you don't Mind Rats, etc. I'm sure there are plenty
of these types of Landfill treasures.

There are so Many cars in the bottoms of pits with Water
in them, The state Police Dive teams Dive them
Regularly Just to make sure they
are not New Occupied ones.

 

[Cappy Z.]

another not so old ( 50's 60's 70's )
around here anyway Stripping Pits
were used, Not only by People dumping their
Garbage, But by Clean-up Crews After Houses Burned.

There is one Pit here where it is Rumored the Remains
of a Mans Coin Collection Was Dumped along with the rest
of the Burnt Remains into the pit.

a friend of Mine Found a Purse Stuffed with rolls of Pennies
& Other Coins Scatterd all over the side of a Pit.

If you don't Mind Rats, etc. I'm sure there are plenty
of these types of Landfill treasures.

There are so Many cars in the bottoms of pits with Water
in them, The state Police Dive teams Dive them
Regularly Just to make sure they
are not New Occupied ones.

I'm not sure where to begin. Its almost like a TV crime scene. However I'll take you at your word.
I think any area that is at least 50 years old and might be a dump site is worth MDing.
AND using a metal screen in certain circumstances.

Thanks for posting great info!

CZ

 

[Montana Jim]

At an area I hunt frequently the US Army, then others, dumped trash and garbage into "landfills" (draws near a river) from the 1860s to the 1910s. They filled one draw after another until the banks were level and even. They dumped everything and I mean EVERYTHING where I can still dig and find stuff... doll parts, plates, cups and glasses, beef bones, and all matter of household trash. Even iron toys and table clocks.

A flood in the 1960s took a great part of the banks away along with the trash which is probably distributed for several miles... There are first hand stories that include an Army buckboard wagon full of kitchen supplies from the 1890s which was there right up till the flood took it!

IMO - Some stuff ended up in privies, but there were also community dumps that were filled with larger stuff.

Good luck in your quest.

Aerial photos may be a great place to start. Along with old-timer interviews.

 

[jeff of pa]

Aerial Photos Can help If you have a General Idea
However at least around here they Can be Hard to I.D.

Example.

Pick the Landfillin this 50's photo



Although that Could be one in the center,
I Have no records of one there

Upper Left was Tremont's



This was Tower City's



According to a Local Antique Dealer
Her Father told her they Dumped Slot Machines in
a Pit on this Mountain, (PEACH MOUNTAIN)
With the Coins in them. Could
be one I Circled,
Could be Outside the area I Clipped.

There are Many Treasures Thrown away
Accidently & On Purpose.



one that Just Popped back in my Mind.

as a 12-13 Year old My Uncle showed me
a small pit of smashed Slot Machines.
He told me he used to Dive stripping Pits
& Retrieve them, Tear them apart for the
Coins & Depost the Spoils Here.
in this General area



Land is owned buy a Large Land Conglamerate.

Think I'm going to have
to Do some Thinking.

 

[Cappy Z.]

I can feel a bad case of gold fever coming on.......