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All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Digging and Finding >> What came first, the privy or the tree root?

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What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:50:56 PM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline I was out yesterday digging a stone lined square when I uncovered a large tree root at about 3 feet down. I couldn't tell if the privy was built around the root or if the root had grown after the privy was in use. Did a digger before me cut the root to be able to dig further or did the builder of the privy saw the root and build the wall around the remains of the root? I can't assume that the pit was dug and fill it in because I need to get to the bottom anyway to find clues that will help me determine the age that this privy was in use. At this point I've only recovered TOC bottles, whith no signs of any redware shards which are very common in pre-1870's pits in this area. Attachment (1) Post #: 1

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:51:55 PM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline This is the corner where the root starts Attachment (1) (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 2

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:52:48 PM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline A bottle, this is a good sign. Attachment (1) (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 3

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:53:49 PM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline Green glass! Could this be a soda! Attachment (1) (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 4

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:54:54 PM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline View from the top just before I am starting to fill it back in. Attachment (1) (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 5

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:55:41 PM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline Yield from the dig. Attachment (1) (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 6

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:58:11 PM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline ..and the most interesting finds, cleaned up. The whiskey (glue back) has good color and will make it onto my whiskey shelf. Tom Attachment (1) (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 7

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:58:15 PM    Lordbud   Posts: 2297 Joined: 6/16/2005 From: San Jose Status: offline . _____________________________ Jason San Francisco Bay Area bottles and go-withs. (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 8

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 1:59:27 PM    Wheelah23 Posts: 4300 Joined: 8/9/2010 From: Glen Ridge, New Jersey Status: offline I'm gonna say it was dug. You didn't find much, and the dirt looks all mixed up, with no distinct layers... I doubt a dead root would survive 100+ years underground like that anyway. _____________________________ Looking for bottles from Glen Ridge, Montclair, Bloomfield, Orange, East Orange, West Orange, South Orange, and if I like 'em, any other bottles from Essex County NJ! Also Manahawkin NJ! Message me if you want to find them a new home. (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 9

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 2:02:19 PM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline I know, that what's so puzzling. The only whole bottles were under the root that ran along the wall. There were TOC shards all the way down to the bottom (approx 5ft.). This pit was near an 1849 house, which leads me to believe that the next time I probe the area i should be looking for a barrel. Thanks Tom (in reply to Lordbud) Post #: 10

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/22/2012 2:10:59 PM    RICKJJ59W Posts: 11906 Joined: 3/8/2007 From: Lehigh Valley US of A Status: offline They missed the bottles under the roots. One time we got into a dug one and pulled a pontiled umbrella ink a red iron un embossed green med and a soda they missed under a big root. Ya never know whats hiding.  _____________________________ My web site. Lots of privy and dump dig pictures. Also dig story's I had published in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine and Western & Eastern Treasure's www.19thcenturybottlediggers.com (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 11

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/23/2012 10:37:06 AM    CALDIGR2 Posts: 2270 Joined: 6/20/2005 Status: offline "Rootabegas" are commonplace in pits around here. All grew long after the pit was used and penetrated into the rich soil. I keep a root saw with me and hack 'em out of the way. _____________________________ Dig no privy before it's time. (in reply to RICKJJ59W) Post #: 12

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/23/2012 10:42:00 AM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline I wasn't prepared to saw a root that large, I'm going to add a bow saw to my digging tools. Tom (in reply to CALDIGR2) Post #: 13

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/23/2012 11:23:43 AM    AntiqueMeds   Posts: 2034 Joined: 3/6/2009 From: Frederick, MD. Status: offline I got a battery powered delta reciprocating saw for xmas. Its an amazingly useful tool. _____________________________ My web site - http://www.AntiqueMedicines.com/ Medicine BLOG : http://antiquemedicines.com/blog/ Email me : mknapp@antiquemedicines.com (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 14

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/23/2012 11:39:55 AM    DIGS CHESCO   Posts: 128 Joined: 1/29/2010 From: Uwchland PA Status: offline Thats better yet, I just looked that saw up on amazon.com its available less than 50 bucks. Tom (in reply to AntiqueMeds) Post #: 15

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/23/2012 6:13:34 PM    padigger12983   Posts: 111 Joined: 1/14/2012 Status: offline what is the cobalt blue piece (in reply to DIGS CHESCO) Post #: 16

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/23/2012 6:59:51 PM    lexdigger   Posts: 1770 Joined: 5/31/2005 From: Lexington, Ky. Status: offline Yes, a cordless sawzall will do the trick. I love my power tools... just make sure your batteries are all charged up before a dig. (in reply to padigger12983) Post #: 17

RE: What came first, the privy or the tree root? - 1/24/2012 11:00:19 AM    CALDIGR2 Posts: 2270 Joined: 6/20/2005 Status: offline I keep a generator in the back of my truck. Gotta have a rotor hammer to drill through concrete for probing and a sawzall for removing other metal and wood obstacles. If the concrete deck is large we just drill holes around the perimeter of a pit that's found and pop a hole with breaker bars or double jacks. I do have 18V tools but the batts always seem to go bad wen you need 'em the most. A good pair of ratcheting bolt cutters comes in handy for eliminating pesky chains and locks, too. Mostly I just cut out a link and add my own lock. _____________________________ Dig no privy before it's time. (in reply to lexdigger) Post #: 18

All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Digging and Finding >> What came first, the privy or the tree root?

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