How to Dig a Privy

Research the area to find good candidates to dig a privy. Urban areas are not typically good spots to hold a dig, but rural areas that have, or had, 19th century homes may be good places to start.

Ask permission from the homeowner. Explain what you're looking for and ask for permission to inspect the property for signs of a privy. He or she may even be able to tell you where to look. Be sure to explain that you plan to dig in the area once you've found a probable location.

Inspect the property. Check near property lines, as this was a common location for outhouses to be built. Look for slight indentations in the soil where the buried material settled over the years.

Probe the soil in a likely area using your steel or wooden probe. Locations that are most promising will allow you to insert the probe fairly easily, without much resistance.Pull out the probe to inspect the end. In likely privy locations, the probe will often have ash on the end. When you've found the most likely location, begin to dig with your shovel, putting the fill into buckets and dumping them onto the tarp.

Dig a small hole to start with, to look for signs that there is more than just soil in the earth. You might find pieces of debris such as pieces of the wood used to surround the privy. If it looks promising, dig deeper. You may be required to dig 10 feet or more into the earth to uncover all the buried treasure that a privy may hold. As your hole grows, use the ladder, and begin using the 55 gallon drums to remove the dirt.

Sift through the uncovered dirt in the 55 gallon drums using your fingers or a sieve. Sift over the tarp or another drum, so you don't lose the dirt and create a mess for the homeowner. Be careful as you dig so as not to break any antique glass or other breakable items that you might find.

Replace the soil for the homeowner, and clear away any debris.