Outbuildings

Outbuildings. . Why would an archeologist excavate an outhouse pit? In the years before indoor plumbing, outhouse toilets often doubled as garbage dumps. Sometimes things fell in accidentally. Other times material was tossed in as part of the fill when a privy was closed and the outhouse moved to another site. , , The artifacts found in privies can give the archeologist knowledge about their users. The manufacturing methods of things such as bottles may indicate the time period that the privy was used. If things such as delicate gilded and hand-painted porcelain cups are found, it may indicate that the privy's users were well off. Animal and plant remains may indicate the diet of the users. , , Privy , (To your left) , Before the advent of indoor plumbing, bathrooms and toilets, settlers used privies, also known as outhouses. These were usually small, wooden structures with a seat above a deep hole in the ground. Some privies had one seat for adults and one for children. For obvious reasons, the privies were located away from the main house, which unfortunately made it more difficult to use during the winter. , , Privies varied in design depending on who built them, where they were located and the availability of materials. Symbols were often cut into the top of the door. This let in sunlight and moonlight and also designated whether the privy was for men or women. The familiar crescent moon was a symbol for women while a star or sunburst was the symbol for men. , , Chicken Coop , (In front of you) , One of the busiest outbuildings on a farm was the chicken coop. This shelter provided chickens with a safe place to eat, drink, sleep and lay eggs. There were perches inside the coop for the chickens to roost on, nesting boxes to lay eggs in and feeders that provided both food and water. The floor would be strewn with straw or wood chips to deal with droppings and make clean up easier. , , The chicken coop had a door for humans and a small entrance for the chickens to go in and out. There was always some sort of ventilation to provide fresh air. Insulation would help keep the coop warm during the winter. Adjacent to the coop was an area where the chicken could roam, hunt for insects and take dust baths. This area was usually fenced in to provide protection from predators. , , The Dominique is a breed of chicken originating in the United States during the Colonial Period. It is considered America's oldest breed of chicken. By the 19th century, they were widely popular and were raised in many parts of the country. Dominiques are a dual purpose breed, being valued for their meat as well as for their brown eggs. In earlier times, their feathers were much sought after as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.