Not what I was looking for

[Bass]

For a couple of years I have searched off and on for a privy that belonged to a doctor in the later half of the 1800's. I thought I had found it last weekend when I finally probed a privy on that property. After some hard work and sweat I'm down to about 6' and within inches of the bottom and thus far all I have are some early 20th century snuff bottles. Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper at this point. There is a lot of broken dishwear in the hole but other than that, it's glass free. I have found a couple of broken medicines as well. I feel like this is a later privy that may have been dug in the early 1900's. What's confusing is the square nails I have found, mostly in the upper half. Anywho, I've got some in situ photos because I know unclemac is chomping at the bit to see some dirt. The photos are somewhat in order, the earlier ones being the top of the hole and the later ones being in the bottom.

This one snuff jar does have some good color to it to say the least. I'm debating whether to try to clean this hole out or to start filling it in and begin looking for another one. What say you folks?

 

[epackage]

That snuff is a beauty, keep digging...

 

[BENTHOR]

I'D STOP PERSONALLY. NOT ENOUGH GLASS. THE SPOTS I GO TO ARE FILLED WITH GLASS. NICE SNUFF BOTTLE THOUGH.

 

[cje]

I'm with epackage...finish it off

 

[BENTHOR]

FINISH IT AND GET BACK TO US WITH WHAT YOU FIND.....I DON'T HAVE A GREAT FEELING ABOUT IT.

 

[gleaner1]

Finish 'er off please, you wont be able to sleep thinking about that killer bot you left in there.

 

[sandchip]

Dat sho' be a nice snuff! It ain't done with until you reach bottom.

 

[john glassman]

I like the snuff jar and the bottumhalf of the white pipe . What the temp in the privy that tell what will break

 

[Bass]

Very warm here. Temp in privy probably has never been below 45

 

[unclemac]

it is a treasure hunt, you just don't know until you dig, the crown jewels of Iranistan may be in that hole but you will never know until you dig it out! And for me that broken ceramic would be a treasure trove. This is a small TV stand I just made for fun...the pottery pieces were all found on the beach, I have a lot of fun with this material.

 

[yakker]

I too like that snuff bottle. Slog away until you know it's over. And that's for showing your dig- That's a lot of work there. Yakker

 

[Bass]

Ok, I'll finish it but I don't think there's anything left. Unclemac, that stand is beautiful. Not only is it pleasing to the eye it also contains history.

 

[unclemac]

Ok, I'll finish it but I don't think there's anything left. Unclemac, that stand is beautiful. Not only is it pleasing to the eye it also contains history.

thanks Bass, I am always looking for ways to use the bits and pieces I find...even the wood I use is often recycled or "found". Now if only I could find a use for bottle necks....

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

I say finish it off, it's not about quantity it's about quality and that snuff is quality.
ZDD

 

[Bass]

Back in the hole again today, by myself. Still no whole bottles but found some brokes so at least it's promising. I am almost certain this hole was dipped, probably in the early 1900's. The brokes I found were lodged in the wall. From the photos you can see this is a square hole. Look at a couple of these photos and you'll see the handle of my 5 ft probe at the bottom on the right. I could push it down with one hand. I probed it all over the bottom and can't feel any more glass or brick. I don't know how deep it is but my probe tip was at around 15 ft. At this point I'm too far down to stop now. I feel there may be some bottles at the bottom. Hopefully I can recruit a friend to help. Must have carried 25-30 5-gallon buckets up that ladder today. The broke pcs are an umbrella ink and I'm guessing a sauce.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

It may have been dug before, but you have a few very nice finds to show for your hard work.

 

[Bass]

Pretty sure it's never been dug. Keep running across undisturbed layers of ash.

 

[NCPeaches]

thanks Bass, I am always looking for ways to use the bits and pieces I find...even the wood I use is often recycled or "found". Now if only I could find a use for bottle necks....

Bottle necks might make good wind chimes if the glass isn't thin, well at least that's what one of my friends suggested I do with the old bottle necks I find in the creek lol

 

[Bass]

I stuff them into fruit jars

 

[jgas]

Fill it in, give me the coordinates and I will finish it! LOL...Gotta get to the bottom. I have found some of my best finds in pits I thought to be dug or nothing in them. Heck I probed one pit no less than 20-25 times and just flat out certain there was nothing left. Chunks of cinders and junk. Low and behold out pops a perfect 1 and 1/2 gallon Cathedral pickle jar in perfect condition. So ya never know and you will be wondering forever what you could have possibly left behind! Good luck but don't dig alone that deep please. jgas