Exploring underground tunnels and found some rings

greentree89

Jr. Member
Mar 28, 2013
27
84
UK
Detector(s) used
Tesoro VLF Eldorado Old Metal Box Version
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
In my town we have huge culvert storm tunnels underground (I suppose all towns do!) and me and some friends discovered an entrance to these tunnels.
The tunnels were built back in the 19th century and some parts of the tunnel are still that old, you can see the old brickwork they used to build the tunnels.
Although most of it is modern now with concrete pipes.
Near the end of the tunnels we found something fascinating.
I missed it completely but my friend caught eye of some writing on the tunnels, our eyes began to adjust to what we were seeing all around us in one section of the tunnel.
Someone had somehow printed or pressed every page of a newspaper onto the walls and it is imprinted on the tunnel walls like a tattoo. We finally found the front page with the date September 13, 1933. Sort of like a time capsule. They had somehow neatly imprinted every page side by side onto the ceiling and walls.
Later on my friend saw a glint in the shallow water and picked up a ring. I started to realize how many interesting things could be found down here so I started to look around and soon after I found a ring as well alongside a few coins from the 60's
I must bring my detector next time!

No idea how old the rings are. They might not be that old at all but they look very nice.
Here are pictures of the rings we found and the newspaper prints.
Also some pictures of the tunnels taken by someone else.

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Upvote 35
the rings are cool, but man those photos are really really good!

great post
 

GREENTREE I AM LOST FOR WORDS . THE RINGS ARE REALLY NEAT AND THE LAST 4 PICS OF THE TUNNEL JUST BLOW YOU AWAY .THE IDEA OF PAPER CURING CONCRETE SOUNDS POSSIBLE THERE ARE PROBALLY ALL KINDS OF ITEMS DOWN THERE . THE VERY LAST PIC SHOULD BE PHRASED THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FITS PERFECT.
 

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You are a true explorer my friend I would be so happy to join you ! I have searched the tunnels of nyc when I was a kid
All,blocked off now no access but it was great !! Hh gl on your return trip
 

Looking at those pictures, all I can think about are those meddling kids and their dog.
 

Fantastic photography of the tunnels. I camped in an old cabin where they has used old newspaper for wall paper. Very interesting and no telling what else you might find!
Be safe.
 

It looks like a great spot! But tooooooo Creepy for me!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup:
 

Awesome finds, and some INCREDIBLY FINE photos. Well done!
 

Carolina Tom is correct regarding the newspapers.

Late 19th and early to mid 20th century concrete forming frequently utilized newsprint as a barrier between the concrete form and the poured concrete. This served, at minimum, as a seal to keep the concrete from bleeding through any cracks in the forms. It likely also served to keep concrete from adhering to the forms themselves, making for easy removal of forms once cured.

Take the images you made to and good cement and concrete contractor and you will likely get far more information than most of us here can provide. Might even get a few good stories from senior employees.
 

I've engaged in a decent bit of storm sewer hunting and have done extremely well, but a detector is the last thing you need!

You will want a sifter with 1/4 inch mesh, a scoop or bit of sheet metal for scraping up the concentrated gravels, a rock pick or hammer/chisel to remove items lodged in cracks or joints between pipe sections, and a good "miner's lamp" or LED head-mounted flashlight.

You find the "upstream" ends of gravel bars where the iron and other heavy stuff concentrates, then start scooping and sifting. By 1933 a good deal of the sterling coin was probably out of circulation but the 50% silver coins oughta be lurking down there, along with jewelry and other treasures. Using the smaller mesh helps catch larger stones that have popped out of rings, earrings, etc.

Here are some pics, if ya don't mind:

~1935 storm sewer:
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Dark grey silver dime sitting in the sifter!
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The haul from just a portion of this one sewer:
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Hi everyone, Thankyou for all your kind encouraging comments! It was great fun exploring those tunnels and they go a lot further and deeper than I felt comfortable exploring! I hope to build up enough courage to explore more of it some time.
I can't take credit for the 4 sexy photos of the tunnels. They were from another site showing their adventure into the same storm tunnels.
Its fascinating to hear the reason behind the newsprints and how it was used for curing the concrete! So that section of the tunnel was likely built 1933. TooManyHobbies, I love your idea of using a mirror, I will bring one next time! Nothing quite like reading the news from 1933 in a tunnel!
There are strange messages on the tunnels at some points, I saw a message saying 'SORRY OT VENEE' whatever that means.
At one point in the tunnels we heard a huge thundering clunking sound reverberating off the walls. No idea what it was but could of just been a huge truck going over one of the manhole covers.

Plumbata that is truly amazing of all those coins you found! I had no idea so much could be found! Its only occurring to me now how much more could be waiting down there. Your idea of using a sieve and scoop makes much more sense now I think about it. My detector may be going off at every step which will get me no where haha.
I will purchase a good head lamp and really get searching next time with a 1/4" sieve.

I will take more photos next time I go and share any news of what I find next!

Here are few more from another site of the same tunnels:

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Regarding the newsprint. You can take detailed photos of the walls and then get mirror images of the photos using software--might be easier than reading the walls with a mirror. Plus you can document your findings for posterity :thumbsup:
 

it's easy to flip pics horizontal

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and vertical

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Just download Irfan View or other program that has the ability without
causing distortion
 

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How cool is that? Illuminate the walls and document photographically them for posterity! Would make a great story for your local newspaper or local historical society newsletter.
 

I live in Victoria, BC, Canada - We have tunnels all around our Downtown core but nobody seems to know where to access them, maybe i should start doing some more research and see what I can find in our long lost catacombs of the island. Good work and keep it coming! I love the old articles on the walls, tres cool
 

What kind of camera were you using? Are you on Flickr...cause some of the pics are top notch in my opinion.
 

Great post and thanks for the photos
 

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