Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Hadrian's Wall dig unearths 2,000-year-old toilet seat
BBC News ^ | August 27, 2014 | unattributed

Posted on 08/28/2014 6:07:54 PM PDT by 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".

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: antoninewall; gaskridge; germanlimes; godsgravesglyphs; hadrianswall; romanempire; scotland; scotlandyet; vindolanda
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last
To: glyptol
Sponge on a stick. That's pretty well documented.

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

/johnny

21 posted on 08/28/2014 7:52:47 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

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.


22 posted on 08/28/2014 8:41:05 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: glyptol
I hate to think of what they used for tissue.

Sponge on a stick...

Regards,
GtG

23 posted on 08/28/2014 9:41:58 PM PDT by Gandalf_The_Gray (I live in my own little world, I like it 'cuz they know me here.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

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.)


24 posted on 08/28/2014 10:38:51 PM PDT by Rocky (The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it. George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv; GeronL; Slings and Arrows

Some things are best left buried...


25 posted on 08/28/2014 10:43:20 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (ISIS has started up a slave trade in Iraq. Mission accomplshed, Barack, Mission accomplished.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: glyptol
I hate to think of what they used for tissue.


26 posted on 08/28/2014 10:46:00 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (ISIS has started up a slave trade in Iraq. Mission accomplshed, Barack, Mission accomplished.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

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


27 posted on 08/28/2014 11:07:47 PM PDT by Rockpile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

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


28 posted on 08/29/2014 3:53:16 AM PDT by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JRandomFreeper

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


29 posted on 08/29/2014 3:57:51 AM PDT by Rebelbase
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: eartrumpet

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.


30 posted on 08/29/2014 5:47:47 AM PDT by winodog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Redcitizen

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

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


31 posted on 08/29/2014 6:36:56 AM PDT by wildbill (If you check behind the shower curtain for a murderer, and find one... what's your plan?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

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


32 posted on 08/29/2014 11:00:19 AM PDT by Cloverfarm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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

Now, here is one fabulous latrine:


33 posted on 08/29/2014 3:59:51 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

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


34 posted on 08/29/2014 4:04:18 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: fhayek

“***gasket” is the colloquial term.


35 posted on 08/29/2014 4:06:03 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Rides_A_Red_Horse
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.

36 posted on 08/29/2014 4:10:35 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

Thanks!


37 posted on 08/29/2014 4:11:54 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: wildbill

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


38 posted on 08/30/2014 8:22:53 PM PDT by Redcitizen (Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: fhayek
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.

39 posted on 07/03/2015 2:30:27 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson