Theoretical and Methodological Considerations for Excavating Privies

Excavation within privies by arbitrary 10-cm (4 in.) levels is often a necessity because of time and space constraints. However, when archaeologists invest the extra effort to remove privy deposits by natural and cultural strata, they reap great benefits in terms of interpreting construction, use, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Historical archaeology 2000-01, Vol.34 (1), p.3-19
Main Author: Wheeler, Kathleen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeological research
Archaeological sites
Archaeological theory
Archaeology
Archaeology - methods
Archaeology - standards
City ordinances
Cleaning
Excavation
Excavations
Historical archaeology
History of medicine
History, 18th Century
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
Hygiene
Material culture
Methodology
Municipal solid waste
New Hampshire
Property lines
Public health
Research - standards
Research Design
Sanitary Engineering - history
Sanitation
Social history
U.S.A
Underwater archaeology
Waste
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Summary:Excavation within privies by arbitrary 10-cm (4 in.) levels is often a necessity because of time and space constraints. However, when archaeologists invest the extra effort to remove privy deposits by natural and cultural strata, they reap great benefits in terms of interpreting construction, use, and maintenance behaviors and in elucidating attitudes about hygiene and sanitation. This work outlines some of the advantages of reconstructing site formation processes (e.g., construction, use, maintenance, and abandonment) within privy shafts from sites in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The author offers recommendations on how to excavate individual deposits using both the profile and the single-layer plan of the Harris matrix and "side-access" excavation.
ISSN:0440-9213
2328-1103
DOI:10.1007/BF03373628