Cleaning up Monster 18 deep privy dig today!

[Helix]

Cleaning up Monster 18' deep privy dig today!

This is a privy or outhouse pit that was dug a while back. Best we can figure is that it was mostly 1860's-1900. Basically it was never finished being sifted and filled in due to lack of time. Today while I'm still on vacation I get the job of cleaning it up! I don't think I will find any whole bottles but maybe some small items that were missed. This pit was a large one at 18' deep and 6' around. I haven't started yet and will post finish pics later today of my finds. Here are some pics if anyone has any questions or thoughts feel free let me know. You can see the pit to the left and the shard pile it to the right. Lots of shards. We kept 6 or 8 boxes full of glass shards, not to mention we found almost a hundred whole bottles, clay pipes, marbles, old shoes, bone tooth brushes ect. All the kinds of daily items used from that time period. This was a heart breaker, looks like some type of eagle flask?? It is a round brick liner with the first two' being square and concrete I will be sifting today and will post my finds later. Thanks hope people enjoy!

 

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[surf]

This is a privy or outhouse pit that was dug a while back. Best we can figure is that it was mostly 1860's-1900. Basically it was never finished being sifted and filled in due to lack of time. Today while I'm still on vacation I get the job of cleaning it up! I don't think I will find any whole bottles but maybe some small items that were missed. This pit was a large one at 18' deep and 6' around...

Hey Helix,

You're losing me right out of the gate. Unless you were an original digger, or know those who were, how do you know this is an 18 footer? How are you going about this? You're not planning on redigging, are you?

There appears to be some embossing in that frame beneath the eagle. What does it say?

Forty years seems awfully long for the life of a privy, at least in these parts. Have you probed for other pits, that may be undug?

Here's hoping you find some goodies.

​

 

[Helix]

Sorry about that I tend to leave out some important facts. Yes I was the one who dig this pit. The first 10' was lots of rocks brick and fill then after all that we hit the use layer. One nice thing about this pit being so deep was that I was the only one willing to climb down a hole that deep. So I got to do all the digging and finding. I would of posted this one on Tnet but I was not on here at the time. I apologize if im going into the realm of past finds. Today Im just finishing up sifting and filling in whats left. As for there being another privy. The house was built in 1871 but the lot had three older structures on it according to my 1850's map. Unfortunately unlike the Sanborn maps which show every structure the 50's map does not show smaller buildings like a privy. One of the buildings ran the whole length of the back of the lot which would of put this privy inside of that building. Towards the bottom I was finding pontil shards. Could of been late through aways I don't know. A friend of mine said it was more then likely dipped or cleaned out when it was still in use. We have probed high and low looking for any older pits with no luck. Here's a better pic of the eagle flask shard Surf. Says GEREDO It started down poring so I had to hold off on finishing. Here are some of todays finds, not much. Bowl from a pipe. clay marble. Now this kind of stuff gets me going. Pontil bottles! Looks like a scroll flask. Top right is the eagle flask, looks like it was made with the key mold process. Its just killing me wondering if there is an older pit in this yard. Any thoughts??

 

[surf]

Glass Town: Ceredo​

Hey Helix,

Make that Ceredo, and you've got a shard of a rare one from a very short lived glass factory. Here's an excellent bit of history: Historical flasks Pike's Peak flask.

When did you dig this one? I'd like to see the bottles and bits recovered from the initial dig, if you'd be so kind.

I'd very much want to find any other pits in that vicinity, were I you. I'd probe, re-probe, and probe some more. There's gotta be other pits with 3 structures on the property…

​

You can see the eagle side with the Ceredo legend here >>> GXI-36 Ceredo Prospector Eagle deep bluish aqua

 

[Helix]

Well that figures that shared is from a rare flask. AAARGGG! There literally was a ton of weight above the use layer so most all of the thin bottles like the hand blown stuff was broken. I get the shards I save out and see if I can post them some pics. Here are some pipes and some other smalls dug in this pit.

 

[Helix]

Im going to do a separate post for each box. Yes this all came out of that pit. Here is box #1 exhibit A. Mostly dishes and china. some close ups Sorry nothing has been cleaned. If anyone see anything important let me know Ill get better pic.

 

[bottlehunterofcoscob]

Nice finds, too bad nothing whole.

 

[Helix]

Nothing whole in the shard boxes no. I will have to get to the whole bottles in a few days when I get home. Box #2 Hope people can blow up the pics on your side because I sure can't.

 

[Helix]

The only whole bottles that I didn't take home were these. Warner's safe cure, mustard barrel embossed G&L few master inks from England. utility jars and some slick no embossed bottles. oh and a parkers ginger tonic from NY.

 

[bottlehunterofcoscob]

I woulda taken the Warner's and probably the jars, if anything to sell. But I guess if you see that stuff all the time I understand.

 

[CoilyGirl]

I love those little crocks but then again none of that is commonplace for me.Looks like a great hunt.

 

[Helix]

I woulda taken the Warner's and probably the jars, if anything to sell. But I guess if you see that stuff all the time I understand.

No I don't sell any of my finds metal detecting or bottle digging. In fact I probably keep way to much. LOL.. I brought the better bottles home so I could do some research on them. We are plan is to keep everything with the house. Maybe make some sort of collage with the shards to hang in the house someday. Almost forgot I had a pic of this pipe that was also found. my favorite find from the dig. Completely intact, doesn't seem like something they would have during the Victorian era. .

 

[bottlehunterofcoscob]

That's a very neat pipe!

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Love that pipe!!!!

 

[got2dig]

Very Nice, keep going there has to be more. Your hard work has got you some good finds. HH...

 

[Helix]

For all you expert bottle, pit, privy diggers out there. Here are my maps of the lot over time. First is the 1856 map. Shows three buildings. The longer one to the far right is were the pit I dug is located. Here is a map of the same lot in the 1870's and It clearly shows the privy I am finishing up with. Far top left small square next to the ally Two smaller buildings are gone and larger house in it place. So there must be other pits right Anyone have any Ideas were to probe from looking at these maps Im getting way off topic here,, again I apologize.

 

[markp]

nice finds