New bottles found in yard anyone know what they might be

[Burris5]

I have tried looking into it but unable to find anything would anyone happen to know what these are or what time frame they are from? They were found in my yard which the house was built in 1840 so am not sure what/where it came from. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

 

[zsmith333]

First one id say is a perfume/cologne bottle, second would probably be a (possibly fairly old) wine or liquor bottle. First one maybe 20s-turn of the century, second, possibly mid 1800s? Im not an expert by any means on those bottles, there are far more knowledgeable people here for those

 

[willong]

First one id say is a perfume/cologne bottle, second would probably be a (possibly fairly old) wine or liquor bottle. First one maybe 20s-turn of the century, second, possibly mid 1800s? Im not an expert by any means on those bottles, there are far more knowledgeable people here for those

I'd agree with you on the likely contents of the bottles, though I don't think the wine bottle is nearly that old. Most likely both are late-19th to early 20th century in my opinion, especially so if they were found in context with each other.

 

[willong]

I have tried looking into it but unable to find anything would anyone happen to know what these are or what time frame they are from? They were found in my yard which the house was built in 1840 so am not sure what/where it came from. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

If I were you, I would definitely be probing the yard in search of old privy pits!

 

[zsmith333]

I'd agree with you on the likely contents of the bottles, though I don't think the wine bottle is nearly that old. Most likely both are late-19th to early 20th century in my opinion, especially so if they were found in context with each other.

Good point. The wine bottle was a shot in the dark on my part.

 

[Burris5]

I'd agree with you on the likely contents of the bottles, though I don't think the wine bottle is nearly that old. Most likely both are late-19th to early 20th century in my opinion, especially so if they were found in context with each other.

Oh they were found in different areas I have several more bottles we have found I need to get pictures of them all and get them on here so maybe someone could let me know more about them. Thank you so much for your reply.

 

[Burris5]

If I were you, I would definitely be probing the yard in search of old privy pits!

I apologize I am new to this what exactly are you talking about

 

[Mailman1960]

I apologize I am new to this what exactly are you talking about

Where the outdoor bathroom used to be, privy. When Plumbing came around they filled up the hole with whatever garbage they had. Yesterday's garbage, today's Treasures.

 

[willong]

I apologize I am new to this what exactly are you talking about

An outdoor pit toilet is know as a privy. With a property having had a house on it in 1840 you could could potentially have some very collectible antique bottles and other items such as porcelain chamber pots--some even potentially valuable--buried on your land. The potential is greater if your home is, or was throughout the 19th century, located on rural land. (In urban locations, privy pits were often lined with bricks, stones or wood to produce a more enduring structure, which would be periodically emptied by a "honey dipper" who would dispose of the material at another location.) On a rural property, one is more likely to find multiple filled-in pits, often without any lining, because the residents were not as limited for space in which to dig a new pit after a previous site reached capacity.

An experienced digger can locate the old pits by systematically probing the ground with a metal probing rod. If the task is not something that appeals to you personally, I'm sure there are bottle diggers in your area, likely several who participate in this forum, more than willing to explore and excavate an 1840's property for a selection share of any finds. I know I would be! Unfortunately, an occupied property that old is not likely located anywhere near my home in the Pacific Northwest .

 

[willong]

I have several more bottles we have found I need to get pictures of them all and get them on here so maybe someone could let me know more about them.

We are all looking forward to seeing those photos!