bottles and building parts from chicago's past pulled from excavations across the city

the following compilation of images were taken from various chicago excavations - both commercial and residential over the past few weeks.  the wide range of objects or artifacts recovered (and in many cases documented in the studio) include 19th century wood "pilings" once supporting a building demolished long ago, to light bulbs, bottles, and a completely intact privy pit or "vault" floor (comprised of multiple one inch pine wood boards cut down and arranged in a circular formation.

the 19th century pine wood privy pit floor was discovered behind a chicago cottage constructed around 1881. unfortunately the privy vault was "dipped" or cleaned before it was filled - likely when indoor plumbing was installed in the house. the floor boards were painstakingly cleaned and pieced back together over the course of a week's time. the well-preserved floor - now assembled as a "unit" will make for a great displayable artifact for upcoming presentations and/or lectures revolving around unearthing chicago.

if and when i have more time to thoroughly research these subterranean finds, i will certainly do so, since each image is badly in need of a narrative to assign meaning to these images that collectively, represent short-lived portals to the past, revealed when dug, and closed when buried over and built upon.