NOTE: This event has been canceled and will be rescheduled.

The Kennebec Historical Society’s January public presentation “A Tale of Three Privies” will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Hope Baptist Church, 726 Western Ave., Manchester. Leon “Lee” Cranmer will be the speaker.

“A Tale of Three Privies” looks at the archaeological excavation of privies on three diverse sites, an 18th-century fort, a 19th-century farmstead, and a 19th-century urban house, according to a news release from the historical society. From the large quantity of nearly complete artifacts from these privies, a picture of the lifestyles of the sites’ occupants can be developed along with an understanding of the material culture of the time. It also can be determined when these privies were filled in and even speculate as to why they were filled.

Cranmer is an historical archaeologist who retired in August 2010 from the staff of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, according to the release. He has a bachelor of science degree from Stockton University, and a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology and Master of Arts in history/historical archaeology from the University of Maine. Cranmer has worked in archaeology in Maine for more than 35 years and has conducted archaeology for the state of Maine for more than 25 years. Prior to that he spent two seasons in England doing archaeology. He has written one book and numerous articles on Maine historical archaeology and is working on another book on Fort Halifax, a French and Indian War period fort in Winslow. He has excavated hundreds of Maine sites for which he has written or co-authored site reports. Prior to his archaeology career, Cranmer spent seven years in the Navy and is a Vietnam veteran. He lives in Somerville with his wife Liz.

The presentation is free to the public, donations will be accepted.

For more information, call 622-7718.