Anthropology

Judi Lynn

(162,379 posts) Mon Feb 20, 2023, 04:33 AM Feb 2023

Archeologists in China 'burst into laughter' after unearthing a 2,200-year-old flush toilet

Story by ivanhagen@insider.com (Isobel van Hagen) • Yesterday 7:28 AM

Archeologists in China discovered a flush toilet between 2,200 and 2,400 years old.
The ancient toilet is "deceptively advanced" because of the water drainage system.
"Everybody at the site was surprised, and then we all burst into laughter," an excavation team member said.

Archeologists in China uncovered a flush toilet that is likely one of the oldest ever discovered, China's state news agency reported earlier this week.

While excavating two large buildings in the ruins of the palace in the city of Yueyang, the researchers from the Institute of Archaeology at the China Academy of Social Sciences were surprised to make the discovery.

The toilet is estimated to be between 2,200 and 2,400 years old, from between the Warring States Period to the beginning of the Han Dynasty. The find is intriguing as the invention of the modern flush toilets is thought to be from Victorian England.

Fan Mingyang, a design expert in ancient tools, said the toilet is "deceptively advanced" because of the water drainage system that is used in the modern day, according to China's Global Times newspaper.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/archeologists-in-china-burst-into-laughter-after-unearthing-a-2200-year-old-flush-toilet/ar-AA17FHFg

5 replies

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Highlight:

Archeologists in China 'burst into laughter' after unearthing a 2,200-year-old flush toilet (Original Post) Judi Lynn Feb 2023 OP

Now we all know where that saying 'In the Toilet!' came from! Ha ha heh...good to get a SWBTATTReg Feb 2023 #1

And in Mt. Vernon, one of the most eye-opening attractions is the Baitball Blogger Feb 2023 #2

Whoa! They went all out, didn't they? Yikes. Would never have expected that.... ! Judi Lynn Feb 2023 #4

Years ago I visited an historic home somewhere in New England Staph Feb 2023 #5

American Standard or Toto? 3Hotdogs Feb 2023 #3

SWBTATTReg

(24,085 posts)

1. Now we all know where that saying 'In the Toilet!' came from! Ha ha heh...good to get a

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 20, 2023, 05:45 AM

Feb 2023

good laugh when one is working so hard to unearth these amazing historical finds via their digs.

Baitball Blogger

(48,034 posts)

2. And in Mt. Vernon, one of the most eye-opening attractions is the

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 20, 2023, 07:28 AM

Feb 2023

communal outside toilet which was not much more than a bench with holes in it.

Judi Lynn

(162,379 posts)

4. Whoa! They went all out, didn't they? Yikes. Would never have expected that.... !

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Reply #2)

Mon Feb 20, 2023, 04:46 PM

Feb 2023

Thanks for the interesting info. Something to think about, for sure.

Mt. Vernon!

Wow! Also Mt. Vernon. Going in style!

Staph

(6,346 posts)

5. Years ago I visited an historic home somewhere in New England

Reply to Judi Lynn (Reply #4)

Mon Feb 20, 2023, 05:28 PM

Feb 2023

(I wish I could remember the name and place!).

The home had a three-hole outside toilet, similar to the one at Mount Vernon, though the three holes were all in a row. The third hole was set about six inches lower than the other two, obviously designed for children.

The guide told us that the last owner of the home left a lot of writings about his youth, including some stories about that outhouse. He told of going to the outhouse with his grandfather, and the two of them would sit and tell stories and just be grandpa and grandson, while sitting on the toilet.

We are rather delicate about these things nowadays!

3Hotdogs

(13,394 posts)

3. American Standard or Toto?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 20, 2023, 07:34 AM

Feb 2023

I knew flush toilets and other technological advances were developed in China during the Han dynasty. Han also were the first to figure out how to make paper.

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