My first and last EPIC 19th century privy dig

smokeythecat

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Yes, it is my first one. I found the remnants of a tiny privy in VA a few years ago, and got some few CW items out of it. The glass was already gone, but I got some minies, a belt keeper and other stuff.

Tommybuckets found a deeply buried iron kettle, which he didn't recover at one of my permissions last week. I had told him previously what a privy looks like, the dirt, that is and I went back the next day to dig 'er up. About 12" down I started running into broken clear glass medicine bottles, LOTS of them and then MORE broken ca 1880-1890 stoneware dishes. As these dishes can still be purchased whole inexpensively I didn't keep any but a few with the maker's name on the bottom to give to the landowners. The folks who own the land will get some nice bottles this week, as soon as everything is done being cleaned up.

I wound up digging 4 days, having to fill in the hole each day. An old cat can't dig all that much. I was digging through a lot of junk and then out pops two (I suppose) opium bottles. They are tiny, hence the give away that was what they were used for. Ca 1880.

IMG_2408 (1).webp I was stoked! I rarely dig old bottles of any kind! Then, out comes this little guy!IMG_2409 (1).webp

So after some more digging I see what I believe is an amber flask peeping out of the hole. IMG_2411.webp And another pic.IMG_2414.webp And finally out it comes in perfect condition! An amber strap sided flask with odd pontil mark, ca 1870's. IMG_2415 (1).webp And here she is all cleaned up! IMG_2441.webp

That ended the first day. The second day I dug back to where I had finished. By now I had a 5 gallon bucket of broken pottery and glass. Now far from the bottle I pulled some nice medicine bottles 1870's-1890's.IMG_2435.webpIMG_2436.webp

I had found a lot of broken pieces to fruit jars and finally got lucky! Mason's patent 1858!IMG_2447.webp As I got deeper, I found three magnificent ink bottles! IMG_2440.webp In the picture is a traveling ink, with sheared top, my first one ever! An "umbrella" ink with crude glasswork and a J&IEM turtle or igloo ink bottle. These were patented 1865. I'm not getting closer to the CW ear stuff. I had to quit for the day and put all kids of chairs and tools in the hole to keep anyone from falling in it.

The third day was a real bonanza! IMG_2444.webpIMG_2445.webp
IMG_2446.webp

All three pieces are CW period or earlier. The smaller green bottle is a CW beer bottle. The larger one an Ellenville Glass Works whiskey (I think it had whiskey), and I have found bottoms to these bottles on CW camp sites. The jug is nearly identical to one I already had. It is probably 1820-1840 period. I found a couple CW period marbles in the hole, some leather, no coins. No buttons. Although 1' from the hole after the hard rain I found a dropped CS Gardner minie ball! I have some stuff in the truck uncleaned still including some brass items

I found a lot of shards also:IMG_2431.webpIMG_2432.webp
IMG_2433.webp Redware with green manganese glaze on it, blue glazed stoneware jug pieces, 1870's yellowware pieces The redware is probably 1840's or so and the jug 1850's to 1860's. The blue feather edge is probably 1820's to 1850's. I find these on CW sites. There is also a piece of 1880's or so flo blue china there. I'm giving the decorative pieces to the owners.

Last bottle of the dig is one we got yesterday. 1890's medicine bottle from an upper layer we had left before.IMG_2434.webp
 

Upvote 76
Smokey ...Congratulations..very very nice ...I’m voting Banner...
 

What a great dig. One of the few things where things are in context. The deeper you go the better it gets! I like it.
 

What is it with old glass...and the shapes of bottles back then? Just beautiful finds. That's quite a haul you've got there. Thanks for sharing! :)
 

Bump for a friend.
 

Wow!!!! Awesome bottles!!!!
 

Very cool finds. My property had an old home place I believe 1800-1900. I find a lot of that same blue feather edge pottery some flatbuttons and thimbles around and in the roots of a large oak. I’ve suspected its where the privy may be. Giving me an itch to have it removed so I can maybe find some cool old glass.
 

Only just saw this.
Good collection of bottles but I love the ink bottles the best!
 

I like the inks and the black glass the best.
 

That is so freaking awesome, Great Saves!!
 

And the sad thing is probably 8 different folks, including me, have walked over it dozens of times in the past and ignored the deep iron...
 

And the sad thing is probably 8 different folks, including me, have walked over it dozens of times in the past and ignored the deep iron...

But you were the lucky one Smokey and dug, that's what counts in the end.

I have a site that I hammered with the Minelab-walked onto it with Deus and nailed three half pennies out of a hole.
I believed this to be the actual edge of the cellar or privy more likely, as I ran short of time to do deeper digging.
The site was planted in cover crop and I was asked not to dig-now the permission has gone back to rotational cropping and I can't find the spot again.

I know the general area, but this is in the iron patch and it's a dig all again till I hit stone.
I wish it was a heavy till at least because it would turn a bit of stone but that is a heavy wish.

It's the craps to have the permission to dig it out-but can't find it again case.
I took photo's of the grid tree lines in two directions and what happened the permission cut/pushed over the one reference, logged out a few dead one in the other direction.
So I have a 50-75ft strip of something that is only a foot or more around. Probing it might be the solution as any glass below the plow line would be really nice as the site is early 1820's.
Just need time/energy to get going before the planting season that is coming on strong now with the warm up.
 

I was digging minie balls. Two had been "dug" by guys with PI machines and left nearly on top of the ground. Those big machines don't pinpoint very well it seems, or maybe multiples in the same hole. You just never know.
 

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