AUGUSTA — The Kennebec Historical Society’s next public presentation — “A Tale of Three Privies” — will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Hope Baptist Church, 726 Western Ave., Manchester.
The event will explore the archaeological excavation of privies on three diverse sites — an 18th-century fort, a 19th-century farmstead, and a 19th-century urban house.
From the large quantity of nearly complete artifacts from these privies, a picture of the lifestyles of the sites’ occupants can be developed along with an understanding of the material culture of the time. Archaeologists can also determine when these privies were filled in and even speculate as to why they were filled.
Guest speaker Leon Cranmer, an historical archaeologist, retired in 2010 from the staff of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Stockton University as well earning both a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and master’s degree in history/historical archaeology from the University of Maine.
Cranmer has worked in archaeology in Maine for more than 35 years and has conducted archaeology for the state for well over 25 years. Prior to that, he spent two seasons in England on archaeological expeditions.
He has written one book and numerous articles on Maine historical archaeology and is currently working on another book about Fort Halifax, a French and Indian War period fort in Winslow. He has excavated hundreds of Maine sites for which he has written or co-authored site reports. Prior to his archaeology career, Cranmer spent seven years in the Navy and is a Vietnam veteran. He lives in Somerville with his wife Liz.
For more information, call 207-622-7718.
