Privy advice

[bottlecrazy]

My son was recently in a woodliner. He opened it up late in the day. We planned to go back the next day and finish it out, but Unfortunately, due to weather and distance, we couldn't get back to it. But we will - it's in a location where we're pretty sure no-one will find or mess with it.

My question is this - below a pretty narrow ash/paydirt layer, there was a hard "base" maybe 3-4 feet down that seemed to extend across the whole floor of the privy. It's obviously man made (or at least placed there by humans), because it wasn't just a natural rock. It was pretty level. It was harder than clay - my son couldn't break through it with a shovel. Any thoughts on what it could be? Anyone ever experienced anything like that - and if so, what was below it? I'm not sure if it's the base of the privy, or some sort of cap, under which could be some real nice artifacts.

Any thoughts? Thanks, Andy

 

[hemihampton]

Was it a concrete floor? I've hit hard floors before but don't remember them covering the entire bottom floor? can you probe down into the side walls near the floor to get around it?

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

Could be the bottom. Kind of shallow, but not unheard of. I would have to get a probe around it. Could be a treasure awaits. The cement must be breaking down enough to be broken up. Cement in the 1800s is usually mixed with stone I have seen nails even horse hair. Usually lime like and easily busted up. I would bust a hole in the center and probe to the walls. See if you hit anything. If not it must be the floor.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

I recently found a dump very close to multiple stone foundations. I found the old stone lined well. It is covered with stone but has a. One square foot hole to look into. Thing is the dump is right next to the well which I would think how unsanitary! I still am planning on going back the well, the dump and the basements. Never know. I think I see a metal detector in my near future. When I go back I will take pictures to post. Here is how I found the place. These two buckets one aluminum the other enameled steel.

 

[Timelypicken]

I recently found a dump very close to multiple stone foundations. I found the old stone lined well. It is covered with stone but has a. One square foot hole to look into. Thing is the dump is right next to the well which I would think how unsanitary! I still am planning on going back the well, the dump and the basements. Never know. I think I see a metal detector in my near future. When I go back I will take pictures to post. Here is how I found the place. These two buckets one aluminum the other enameled steel.

It could have been a well they didn’t use anymore

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

It could have been a well they didn’t use anymore

That is very likely. They were 100 feet from a river.

 

[nhpharm]

I've found crushed oyster layers in privies that were almost like cement....they put these in to keep the odor down sometimes.

 

[willong]

I've found crushed oyster layers in privies that were almost like cement....they put these in to keep the odor down sometimes.

That makes sense. I was wondering myself if it might have been some type cap, clay or quicklime, for that purpose. However, clay seemed an ineffective method, and that much quicklime seemed extravagant. Crushed shell hadn't occurred to me even though I live fairly close to shellfish farms!