To me, the presence of lime suggests a privy receptacle, as that is what my
father used in our privy when I was a child.
Connie Adkins
----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith R Doms" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 7:46 AM
Subject: Re: Rain barrels


> The University of Delaware Center for Archaeological research excavated a
> mid to late 19th C. rural free black house set on wooden piers in New
> Castle Co., Delaware.  At one corner of the house just below the plowzone
> ( the whole site had been plowed) we excavated an iron barrel hoop
> surounding rotted wood and filled with lime.  The PZ was about 10 inches
> so the bottom of the barrel could have been set about a foot below
> surface.  This would have made the barrel very stable.  Because of it's
> very close proximity and location (at the corner) it was interpreted as a
> rain barrel.  The lime might have been added to help seal the bottom of
> the barrel.
>         Most of the photos I have seen of rain barrels show them at the
> corrner of houses.  I never noted if they were set on ground level or
> slightly resesed/burried.
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