Privy dig question

[Greylock]

I'm out digging what I think is a privy. Ill post pics later. Just want to know is it normal for the to be no iron in the hole. I'm about 5 and a half feet down and not seeing anything.

 

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[finderskeepers]

Are you not finding iron or not finding anything(glass,pottery)? I don't have a lot of direct experience but can't help but think that privys seem more likely to contain "household" trash. Depending on the age, there might not be many iron household implements. Farm and yard tools made of iron might be more likely abandoned along the fields or concentrated where the barn was. What makes you think it is a privy? Are you finding ash or clay soils that seem out of place?

 

[finderskeepers]

Just thinking out loud...be careful your not in a well!

 

[Greylock]

There are two depressions in the ground behind an old cellar hole. Looks like when one filled up they dug another. There were some iron at about 3 feet now I'm at 6 and there is nothing. No iron pottery oysters or glass.

 

[Greylock]

There are some discolorations in the soil. Not much.

 

[finderskeepers]

well very hard to tell size scale of depression from pic 1, but the soil in pic 2 seems to be "clean" as you might expect in a privy. You've already invested 6' of sweat equity, so I wouldn't give up yet, but no targets visual or detected is hard to ignore. Easy for me as an armchair quarterback.. but I would consider maybe another foot or 2 of depth and extending somewhat sideways(at depth) before considering that my guess might have been wrong.

For me, digging holes isn't nearly enough fun on its own, without finding stuff!

 

[vpnavy]

OMG - I am doing everything in my power not to post a funny comment Greylock

 

[finderskeepers]

yeah after pic 3, I would hope to see more and darker discolorations typical with decaying organic matter.

 

[Greylock]

Dont hold back. I want to hear it. I take no offense.

 

[Greylock]

The depressions are about 4'x4' and 2 ' down. My hole is about 3 and a half feet wide (for now) and about 6 feet deep

 

[finderskeepers]

I don't have anything more to offer than positive thoughts for ya. Good luck , I'll watch for future posts.

 

[surf]

I'm about 5 and a half feet down and not seeing anything.

Hello Greylock,

Have you probed this spot or the other? Are there defined side walls; stone lined, or wood? Was there any manmade debris removed?

I'm not seeing any stratification or layers in your hole. 5-1/2 feet of nothing but dirt would tell me it's about time to fill'er in... unless you are feeling disturbed ground beneath.

Either that, or time to get the water & koi.

 

[Greylock]

I haven't done any probing. I had noticed the holes and figured I'd give it a try. There was a layyer of rocks that I thought was fill at about 3 feet. I think your right about filling it in. The storm is moving in so I just threw some logs around and over till tm. I'm in the middle of nowhere so don't have to worry about anyone anyways. Thanks guys

 

[mariposagold]

I've have a few sites that might contain a privy. Does anyone have a link to basics on privy locating, probing and digging?

 

[surf]

Here'ya go, Dan: Privy Locating & Digging - 19th Century Bottle Diggers

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I was going to say your in the wrong spot... You need to take a probe and probe the actual cave in areas that you have found... If the probe sinks in easy then it is a refilled hole and should be the location of the privy...

Keep @ it and HH !!