On our farm, in the family since 1924, there have been several privy
locations as due to generous space, the privys were moved rather than
cleaned.  I was lucky enough to help my father in the last privy move
(1976) and excavation.  Since that time modern plumbing has lessened the
privy use so it has not needed subsequent moving.  It is, by the way, a
fairly ‘modern’ vented version (c.1955), and I think my father used to
throw down some lime as well.  I have taken on maintenance of this
anachronism in recent years: roofing, paint, eavestrough, etc., but of
course it's just a little two-hole privy so it's not a great strain.

Another factor that may occasionally contribute to the cleaning issue is
soil type, as in ease of excavation.  On our farm the hole was easily
dug 6' deep in under two hours (mostly by my dad), so setting up a new
privy spot was not a big deal.  However, I later helped a sculptor
friend dig a privy hole in a 'stiff' soil area about twenty-five miles
south of our farm.  This matrix is a blend of gravel and clay that is
only a little softer than fresh-set cement (and the local trees are
stunted as one might expect).  With several people taking shifts,
including using an electric jackhammer, we could only dig out about a
depth of 3 feet in about three hours.  Such a privy would be a good
candidate for cleaning instead of moving.

I am also reminded of my first archaeological privy excavation, with
Michigan Tech. Univ. in '95 at Fayette, Michigan.  Being a good-size
example behind the company-town's superintendent's house, it had
historically been dug about two feet down when bedrock was hit.
However, the diggers bored right into the bedrock for several more feet:
admirable dedication.

I look forward to the upcoming privy theme issue in HA, but what I
really would like to see is an interdisciplinary journal with a title
such as 'Privy Knowledge'.  There seems to be enough interest and
previous research to warrant at least a biennial series.  But then,
maybe I'm just full of it.

Larry Buhr
Dept. of Anthropology
Univ. of Nevada, Reno