Susan

I can give you negative evidence that I have not seen such a structure in a half-dozen 19th century urban cisterns excavated in the Cincinnati area.  The only filtering device I have seen is a series of more than a dozen holes drilled in the intake pipe near the base of one cistern.

Bob Genheimer
George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
513-455-7161
513-455-7169 fax 

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Susan
Walter
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 12:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: filters inside of cisterns


Hello all, 

Has anyone encountered red brick filters inside of water cisterns?  

In the cistern I have been studying, slightly off center on the floor is a solid block of cemented bricks.  It measures approximately 49" high, and 2 bricks wide, and 3 1/2 bricks long.  One brick width protrudes down the sides of the construction.  On the top is a place built up of 1 brick wide into which the original ferrous pipe was inserted.  There is no evidence of any opening anywhere.  

Thanks, 
S. Walter


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