What came first, the privy or the tree root?

[DIGS CHESCO]

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.

 

[DIGS CHESCO]

This is the corner where the root starts

 

[DIGS CHESCO]

A bottle, this is a good sign.

 

[DIGS CHESCO]

Green glass! Could this be a soda!

 

[DIGS CHESCO]

View from the top just before I am starting to fill it back in.

 

[DIGS CHESCO]

Yield from the dig.

 

[DIGS CHESCO]

..and the most interesting finds, cleaned up. The whiskey (glue back) has good color and will make it onto my whiskey shelf.

Tom

 

[Lordbud]

.

 

[Wheelah23]

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.

 

[DIGS CHESCO]

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