Latrinae: Roman Toilets in the Northwestern Provinces of the Roman
Empire' presents examples of Roman toilets from a wide area in
northwestern Europe comprising Austria, Belgium, Britain, Germany and
the Netherlands. Seven papers consider 'typically Roman' stone channel
toilets, while five papers discuss the actually much more common wooden
toilets of the cesspit type. Some studies concentrate on a single
installation, others present a number of installations in their
architectural surroundings. In addition, Roman chamber pots, which could
be used either solo or in a toilet chair, are presented in two papers. A
further paper on stercus, usually connected to latrine duty in the Roman
army, questions this interpretation and offers a different meaning of
the word. This book is the first collection on Roman toilets of the
northwestern provinces, and gives a good overview of the possibilities
for human waste removal in Roman times. The volume provides a
fascinating introduction to this under-researched group of Roman
installations.