I have seen a few privies dating to the early 1900s with this type of
construction, some of which used some fire brick.  I suggested that they
were built by the residents using salvaged materials rather than a
professional builder or that they were built with the large gaps to promote
drainage out of the feature like Mark's dry well suggestion.  I discuss
them in the references listed below.  If you would like more info on these
privies, just let me know and I will be glad to send it to you.

Jay

M. Jay Stottman
Assistant Director
Kentucky Archaeological Survey
Western Kentucky University

M. Jay Stottman

1995    Towards a Greater Understanding of Privy Vault Architecture.
In *Historical
Archaeology in Kentucky*, edited by Kim A*. *McBride, W. Stephen McBride,
and David Pollack.  Kentucky Heritage Council, Frankfort, Ky.


M. Jay Stottman

2000    Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Privy Architecture and the Perception of
Sanitation.  *Historical Archaeology *34(1):39-61.



On Tue, Sep 29, 2020 at 6:27 PM Schuyler, Robert L <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> I agree with Dart. I do not see how it could be a cistern or well.  Is
> that a fire brick in one of the pictures or just a burnt brick?
>
> Interesting features.  By the Way:  When, when, etc. context for the
> feature?
>
>
> Robert L. Schuyler
> University of Pennsylvania Museum
> 3260 South Street
> Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324
>
> ________________________________
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of
> [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2020 5:01 PM
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Brick Feature
>
> Hello fellow historical archaeologists. I'm hoping one or more of you may=
>  have some ideas about what this recently exposed circular brick feature =
> might be. It has not been excavated yet. We wanted to gather some ideas a=
> bout what it might be before finalizing an excavation strategy. The inter=
> ior diameter is approximately 3.5 feet. The bricks are dry-laid (no morta=
> r) and manifest evidence of significant burning. The interior of the feat=
> ure does not have the same gaps between bricks that you see on the exteri=
> or. The feature was uncovered near a historic church. Any ideas you have =
> as to what it might be would be most appreciated. Thank you!
>
> You can see photos of the feature at this link:
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/KdpXFwxnk1NNkz2CA
>
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-- 
M. Jay Stottman, PhD
Assistant Director
Kentucky Archaeological Survey
Western Kentucky University

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