Tim Mancle wrote:
"My greatest concern with the recent discussion is that, with a few
exceptions, the interpretations presented greatly rely on personal
experience, and recent practices and understanding, each of which have
limited applicability to the more distant past"


To respond to the comments (I'll let the woodmen and woodwomen of the list
come forward on their own), let me say that I do have plumming in my house,
always have had plumbing in my house, and am not some old geezer who is
reminiscing about the good old days.  In fact, my personal "encounters"
with privies is limited but for a few adventures in childhood and while
camping or exploring cemeteries and old school houses across NY State.  In
fact I have spent far more time peering through splintered seats with a
flashlight than I have set in them for their intended purpose.

I spent my childhood exploring with my father, who had like fascinations
with history, chatting with local old codgers, most of whom were in their
80s and 90s, about the layout of their farms and yards.  I have looked
through their photo albums hearing their stories about how rough it was and
why it was done so differently than it is today (meaning 1960s and 1970s).
I have walked with them through their properties on tours unparalleled in
my experinces as an archaeologist, although the talk on outhouses was tough
to obtain.  As an adult I have spent more than a few years as an historian
and archaeologist studying the patterns and layouts of rural farms and
houseyards.

Sure, I know the biases in the methodology of talking to someone who hasn't
had a regular BM in 40 years or has a catheter, but until we have a way to
resurect the dead and chat about their bathroom habits I'm going to
remember what they told me when they were still alive.  Since I know it is
of value to the question I will share it.  Someday, if I do the right
thing, I will write it up formally with tables, pictures and maps.

Anita is right, we have had this chat a few times over the past few times
and having joined in on a few of them I have not gone to the trouble to
discuss what has already been covered and can be found in the archives.

http://www.lsoft.com/scripts/wl.exe?SL1=HISTARCH&H=LISTS.ASU.EDU

Here's some deja vue from a year or so ago:
http://lists.asu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0007&L=histarch&P=R4155&m=10494

        Dan W.