Hadrian's Wall dig unearths 2,000-year-old toilet seat

BBC News ^ | August 27, 2014 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old, perfectly preserved wooden toilet seat at a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland.

Experts at Vindolanda believe it is the only find of its kind and dates from the 2nd Century.

The site, near Hexham, has previously revealed gold and silver coins and other artefacts of the Roman army.

The seat was discovered in a muddy trench, which was previously filled with rubbish.

Dr Andrew Birley, director of excavations at Vindolanda, said: "We know a lot about Roman toilets from previous excavations at the site and from the wider Roman world, which have included many fabulous Roman latrines.

'Astonishing artefacts'

"But never before have we had the pleasure of seeing a surviving and perfectly preserved wooden seat.

"As soon as we started to uncover it there was no doubt at all on what we had found.

"It is made from a very well worked piece of wood and looks pretty comfortable.

"Now we need to find the toilet that went with it as Roman loos are fascinating places to excavate - their drains often contain astonishing artefacts.

"Let's face it, if you drop something down a Roman latrine you are unlikely to attempt to fish it out unless you are pretty brave or foolhardy."

Dr Birley said many examples of stone and marble toilet benches existed from across the Roman Empire, but this is believed to be the only surviving wooden seat.

He said it was probably preferred to a cold stone seat given the "chilly northern location".

[JRandomFreeper]

Sponge on a stick. That's pretty well documented.

I joke that I have a sponge on a stick for my disaster preps. ;)

/johnny

[blueunicorn6]

I won’t believe it until they find the plastic chain thingy that gets hung up when you flush so that you have to come back five minutes later and jiggle the handle.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

I hate to think of what they used for tissue.

Sponge on a stick...

Regards,
GtG

[Rocky]

So, what exactly are they digging in? I mean, it’s a toilet, right? You gotta really love your job to do that. (Somewhere in there is a pony.)

[a fool in paradise]

Some things are best left buried...

[a fool in paradise]

I hate to think of what they used for tissue.

[Rockpile]

Are you ready to plop your butt down on this “perfectly preserved” seat, BBC fool?

[BobL]

I don’t see a flush handle...so mine is better.

[Rebelbase]

“Commodious, how many times must I tell you to change the sponge water every day”?

[winodog]

I was about 5 and I dropped a dog named Fido in the outhouse after granny said it was worthless and belonged there.

My uncle “peanut” had to go down and get Fido out.
Back hills of Kentucky, true story.

[wildbill]

“That toilet seat was privy to a lot of scuttlebutt and hot air.”

You, sirrah, have found the bottom of the barrel. ROTFLMAO

[Cloverfarm]

Must have been all guys using it, because there doesn’t appear to be a lid to leave up or put down ;-)

[colorado tanker]

First time I remember seeing the word "faboulous" used with "latrine."

Now, here is one fabulous latrine:

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

I vaguely remember that scene. What movie is it from?

[FreedomPoster]

“***gasket” is the colloquial term.

[colorado tanker]

It's No Time For Sergeants, starring Andy Griffith. His Drill Instructor made him Permanent Latrine Orderly, which his character thinks is a great honor.

When the inspecting officer finds out about this, the DI is in deep doodoo, so to speak.

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

Thanks!

[Redcitizen]

lol @ “bottom of barrel”! Good tie in. :)

[trisham]

I don't care, I am still putting down one of those tissue paper SeatGard things.

*********************

LOL! People haven't really changed much, it seems.