I agree with Bob that the most likely identification is a cistern, for water storage, rather than a privy. The circular top hole and possible association with piping are indicative.
One thing to look for is whether there is any evidence of mortar or plastering on the inside brick face (not roof but sides) to help seal the walls to retain water?
The puzzling part is that you said it was at the back of the property. They are usually near a corner of the house, so that rainwater from the roof channels in to fill the cistern.
Meli Diamanti
--- On Tue, 11/16/10, Alexander Keim <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Alexander Keim <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Help identifying a 19th C. subsurface feature, a dry well?
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 11:26 PM
Hello! My name is Alex Keim, a PhD candidate in Historical Archaeology at Boston University, and I am hoping someone can help me identify a architectural feature I encountered while doing a on-site consultation in Lynn, MA. A link to photos is at the bottom of this message. The feature is located in the rear lot of a townhouse constructed in 1871. The feature in question is the remainder of a previously partially demolished brick dome or vault, about 1 meter below current surface level. Based on photographs (see link) of a very similar feature uncovered by construction crews about 30 meters away (but reburied before I could see it firsthand) I believe the feature was originally a dome with a circular opening at the top. This intact feature also had metal piping entering the dome near the base, but the partial feature I encountered had no surviving piping. The dome is roughly a meter from top to base, and the intact portion I saw was about 2 meters in
diameter. The feature is
constructed of bricks and mortar. It is set on a large circular pit, full of cobble sized rubble and rip-rap. I partially excavated the soil fill above the rubble and determined that it dates to after the feature's demolition, and I removed a portion of the rubble fill to try to determine the depth of the hole, but I encountered no sign of a bottom after 70 cm.
I am thinking that this is some kind of dry well, or possibly a cesspool (but there were no cessy conditions or residue on the interior), but I have never dug something like this before and would welcome confirmation or other interpretations. If anyone has encountered a similar feature I would greatly appreciate some feedback. Following is a link to a webpage that should give you access to some photographs of the intact feature I did not see firsthand, and the partial feature I worked on. Thanks for your time!
Sincerely,
Alex
http://img72.imageshack.us/i/intactbrickvaultfeature.jpg/
http://img512.imageshack.us/i/afterpartialremovalofru.jpg/
http://img204.imageshack.us/i/detailoffillremoval.jpg/
http://img217.imageshack.us/i/featureafterexcavationb.jpg/
http://img594.imageshack.us/i/featureafterexcavationb.jpg/
http://img143.imageshack.us/i/featureafterexcavationb.jpg/
http://img138.imageshack.us/i/intactbrickvaultfeature.jpg/
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