A hole out in the woods with nails around the perimeter???

[Vaquero45]

I didn't have time to mess with this hole today, but I did run out to get pictures to post here. I have no idea what it is/was.

The hole is out in the woods. About 300m from the old farm house on the property.


It is about 3.5 x 4.5ft. I got a ton of iron signals all around the edges of it and dug a few of them. All nails in a couple different sizes. I also dug a big wheel about two feet away from. I'm not sure what kind of wheel it is or what it went to.

can anyone help me out with this?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[Pork King]

An old well?

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Only thing left to do is dig into the hole 20-40 inches deep and see if you get any signals,etc... looks like you may have found an old trash pit and looking at those nails and other artifact you got it looks like early 20th century but if you dig deeper into the hole you may find 19th century stuff. Good luck and post any good finds here!

 

[Archeodeb]

Were the nails in any sort of pattern, or were they scattered around randomly? I just wondered if they may have once been embedded in something wooden that rotted away. How damp does the ground stay in that area? (By the way, you should be able to see the outline of whatever may have been there -- if there was something there -- by carefully noting any changes in the color and texture of the soil. If there was once something made of wood in that spot, the soil would probably be blacker and more fertile-looking than surrounding dirt. Although if the leaf litter was deep, all the soil would look pretty black anyway and it might be hard to tell.)

 

[Tnmountains]

Probe it.

 

[Vaquero45]

There were no rocks or wood around the hole. Nothing was there that I could see. I only scraped out the dry leaves so far.

the nails were all around the edges. There are signals all around it.

I may have to go dig a couple feet to see if anything is in it. Any idea what the wheel is from?

 

[parsonwalker]

Outhouse? It's the right size . . . what's it SMELL like?

 

[releventchair]

Could be a hand cart wheel,or off machinery. Guessing cart and wheel around 6 inch diameter. If hole is out house pit color should differ from a nearby test hole.
A probe mentioned earlier should run in easier than surrounding area hopefully with a "tick" or squeak of glass. Safety first if a full dig arises. Till or if that happens a line(former path) from pit to previous house had enough traffic to detect. Test hole in pit should give an answer as mentioned earlier too.
Have fun!

 

[JOHUNT]

Are those copper jacketed bullets? They came into existence in the 1880's and the spitzer rounds around 1901. The shotgun shell looks quite modern as well. I'm guessing it's a 12Ga.winchester 7 1/2 shot. Something must've sat there that was shot at or like someone mentioned; a trash dump. Maybe a farm implement was hauled out of there for scrap metal.

 

[Lafitte Deux]

With all the nails, it makes me think of an old burn pit.
Something used for target practice, then torched.

 

[mfitzs70]

I would say burn pit......wheel possibly from a wheelbarrel

 

[nomad1]

Maybe the wheel is a pulley used to run a rope up and down a well. Is there a groove in the edge for a rope to ride in?

 

[Kampnhuntr]

Maybe the wheel is a pulley used to run a rope up and down a well. Is there a groove in the edge for a rope to ride in?

I agree it looks kinda like a old well pulley.

 

[Vaquero45]

Are those copper jacketed bullets? They came into existence in the 1880's and the spitzer rounds around 1901. The shotgun shell looks quite modern as well. I'm guessing it's a 12Ga.winchester 7 1/2 shot. Something must've sat there that was shot at or like someone mentioned; a trash dump. Maybe a farm implement was hauled out of there for scrap metal.

The hole happens to be down range from where I shoot. I found several 9mm, 5.56, and .30 rounds in the area.

the shotgun shell is likely from my dad or me years ago.

 

[Vaquero45]

Maybe the wheel is a pulley used to run a rope up and down a well. Is there a groove in the edge for a rope to ride in?

that makes sense. There is a groove for a rope.

weird though. Why the hell would a well be way out in the woods like that with no structure around? Any guesses on age by the nails or pulley?

we moved onto the property in '89. Nothing was out there then but the same hole.

 

[creskol]

The nails are wire nails, so whatever it is, it is probably post 1900 era .. give or take..

 

[MeMark]

If the wood was burned that would explain random nails

 

[dieselram94]

that makes sense. There is a groove for a rope.

weird though. Why the hell would a well be way out in the woods like that with no structure around? Any guesses on age by the nails or pulley?

we moved onto the property in '89. Nothing was out there then but the same hole.

Maybe it was located there because someone was water witching and the branch said dig here.....
Could be a animal sacrifice site......just saying as I have heard they were common around here, as well as the practice of witchcraft.....just saying

 

[Vaquero45]

The nails are wire nails, so whatever it is, it is probably post 1900 era .. give or take..

Thanks.

There are a couple wire nails in the pile I dug from the base a large oak near the hole that used to have a tree stand built in it. I thought the ones I pulled out of the hole looked like square nails.

still odd. Whether 1800s or 1900s...what's it doing out there?

 

[dieselram94]

Remember 100+ years ago things in that spot were probably a lot different.....