R. G. Collingwood Memorial Fund

Abstract

sides, the plank measures 277 cm by 17.4 cm, and is 3*5 cm thick. The edges are bevelled on top and bottom, and the surviving section of seat-hole, when ext nded, has an estimated diameter of 19.-o cm. These dimensions compare well with surviving stone examples at Cuicul, Sabratha and Leptis Magna, and confirm the view that it forms the front section of a standard 'key-hole' pattern lavatory-seat-making it the first wooden example from Britain. Large public lavatories in Roman Britain appear to be confined to Coloniae and municipia where the numbers of population created a demand for public services, including sanitary facilities, to be maintained by economic growth and constant use. Examples of combined-system sewerage are to be found at Lincoln, Colchester and York, with latrines at Silchester, Verulamium and Wroxeter. In the lesser centres, small towns and villas, the need for sanitation remained, but economics of construction and maintenance favoured smaller or seperate systems, and drains are more often used either for surface water or to channel foul water into individual soak-aways. The lack of complex sewerage arrangements at Neatham, and the large number of pits, suggest that this find belongs to a simple domestic lavatory-either part stone (many of the examples at Ostia must have been provided with wooden seats, though their frequent absence may also result from later stonerobbing), or a cess-pit with seat supported by corner posts (as at Porchester). Its surprising thickness is essential if it is to be strong enough to support someone whilst retaining the accommodating slot in the front-a functional necessity omitted in many reconstructions.