Privies, which are essentially historic outhouses, can contain a wealth of information about the individuals who used them and are remarkably reflective of the time period of their use! "Archaeologists have found that privies embody 'ideas about cleanliness, health, beauty, and privacy, as well as providing data on diet, socioeconomic status, divisions between households, construction methods, and maintenance behavior,' according to Kathleen Wheeler..."
This cast iron toy bank was recovered from a privy identified during an archaeological excavation. What might this object say about the individuals who used the privy?
Learn about privies and their historical significance here: https://daily.jstor.org/privies-vaults-of-the-past/, and let us know what you think about this fantastic find!
📸: Joshua Butchko