The development of toilet arrangements in Lithuania (according to historical and archaeological data)

The author of the article aims to analyse the hygiene and sanitation conditions in Lithuania from the Medieval times up to the end of the 19th century. Archaeological and historical data allow to reveal the diversity of toilet arrangements during centuries - from a primitive cesspit in the backyard of buildings to a rather complicated latrine chute in castles. While analysing the development of a privy, it became obvious that a significant problem of medieval and post medieval towns was poor sanitation conditions which were strongly related to the lack of a properly arranged sanitation system. Even the wealthy partoftown population sometimes suffered from the lack of toilets. The example of Kernavė shows us a clear picture of a 13th—14th century town - without sanitation arrangements, heaps of dung in the yards or behind the buildings, etc. Only one primitive toilet was found during the excavations, i.e. two wooden planks covering the hole. [...