London - Archaelogists at Hadrian’s Wall appear to have found Hadrian’s Loo after unearthing a perfectly preserved 2,000-year-old wooden toilet seat – the only one in the world.
Dr Andrew Birley, director of excavations at Vindolanda fort in Northumberland, made the discovery himself in a muddy trench that had been filled with ancient rubbish.
Instead of rotting away, the seat was preserved by the oxygen-free conditions created by the refuse.
There are many examples of Roman stone and marble toilet seats but this is believed to be the only surviving wooden seat – perhaps preferred to a stone seat given the chilly location.
Dr Birley said: “Now we need to find the toilet that went with it. Roman loos are fascinating – their drains often contain astonishing artefacts.
“Let’s face it, if you drop something down a Roman latrine, you are unlikely to attempt to fish it out unless you are pretty brave or foolhardy.” - Daily Mail