Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

FINAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PITT DIXON PRIVY

The foundation has previously been excavated by Mr. James Knight and his archaeological crew, but it was thought prudent to make a final examination before reconstruction began. Accordingly, two members of the archaeological staff carried out a further investigation which added a little to the information already recorded.

The structure comprised, at the time of excavation, three incomplete wall footings at north, south and west, there being no trace of an eastern wall. The foundations were situated on the edge of the Gazette gully which had become heavily silted in the first thirty years or so of the 18th century. In consequence the west wall of the structure rested on firm natural clay while a high percentage of the length of the north and south walls overlay the unstable silting. The builders had realized this fact and had stepped their foundation into the silt stratum, but apparently not being aware of its depth, they had stopped short of the hard clay beneath it. Thus, the silt stratum was found extending across the enclosed privy area, beneath the north and south foundations and continuing in those directions towards Nicholson Street and Duke of Gloucester Street. A similar silting was encountered on the same north-south line directly west of the Gazette building and it is reasonable to suppose that this feature extends right across the site.

Assuming that the silt stratum is of the same date both in the area of the Gazette office and beneath the privy, finds from the former could be assumed to assist in the dating of the latter. It may therefore be noted that a considerable quantity of artifacts were recovered from previous work in the southern silt stratum and that the assumed date of deposition is set around the close of the first quarter of the 18th century.

Very few artifacts were recovered from the silt beneath the privy, but they were sufficient for an attempt at dating to be made. The items are as follows:

• 1.One fragment of window glass, 18th century.
• 2.One pipe stem fragment, 18th century.
• 3.One fragment of white delft, 17th or 18th century.
• 4.One rim fragment of a delft ointment pot, c. 1720-60.
• 5.One rim fragment of a delft bowl with blue edge, first half of 18th century.
• 6.One small body fragment of pharmaceutical phial, c. 1700 - c. 1760.
• 7.Two incomplete and rusted iron nails. Date uncertain.
• 8.One body fragment of a glass beverage bottle, c. 1725-40.

It will be seen from the foregoing list that only no. 8 can be dated with any accuracy. However, this is sufficient to provide the privy foundations with a date post quem. It is this writer's opinion that the bottle fragment dates around 1730-35 although the wider date given is clearly safer. It may consequently be said that the foundations were laid after about 1730.

No further evidence is forthcoming. The soil overlying the foundations had been removed by previous excavation and the fill within the structure had been extracted down to the top of the silt. The presence of modern trash, including pages from a Sears catalogue indicates that this was done during Mr. Knight's earlier investigation. Shell in the mortar, and the nature of the brickwork, as well as the English bond suggest that the structure had been erected during or after the colonial period. Mr. Knight has drawn attention to the fact that the use of shell mortar continued into the early 19th century.

No evidence was recovered to indicate the purpose of the structure. It was not, however, a pit-type privy. No further evidence concerning the 3 position or non-existence of the east wall was recovered. Previous excavation had been too complete in that area.