To dig or not to dig???

[dcooper1]

While hunting the other day I came across a signal with my Spectrum that read "87" and had a single line on my bar graph, bout' blew my ears off. When pinpointing it I covered an area approximately 3' X 3'. After digging aproximately 12" I came to a large flat object. Seemed to be concrete but it still game me one heck of a signal. I had already dug a hole about a foot wide so I took one of my tools and stuck it up under the dirt to see if I could feel one of the edges of this thing.....nothing. I didnt have time to do a lot of digging so I noted the spot and covered it back up. For the past 3 days all I could think about was a Confederate payroll.

Good place to add some history. I was hunting on a piece of property where I have found a lot of C.W. era stuff - mostly Union but some Confederate. The location was just at the bottom of a hill approximately 200 yards from the house(that was present during the war).

So.....today I make a b-line for the spot and start digging. Found it easily with the incredible signal it was producing. Once I got to the top of this thing I started working toward finding an edge......found it. Dug down the edge for about 4" and found the bottom of the "concrete" top. Then started working to find a corner......Found it. By now I've got a pretty good size hole in the ground. And yes, still getting a good signal. Started to use my pinpoint probe, it didnt pick anything up until I got about 5-6" away from the outer edge. Next I decided to dig up under this thing to see if maybe some gold coins would roll out. I dug about 6" up under and hit solid again. This time it was some red bricks that appeared to be standing on their sides, one layer tall. Under them seemed to be more "concrete". I located on whole brick and was going to try to remove it to see what it was hiding. I inserted my knife on top of the brick - between it and the lid, seemed to be pretty soft dirt. As I was pulling that dirt out I heard a noise...............it was the dirt falling inside and landing in water!!!!

I know what you're probably thinking.......a well.

My question is.........why would it be so far from the house - downhill, why was it covered up, why was their water at what sounded like near the top of this thing, and last but not least........What in the heck was giving me such an incredible signal?

I'm just guessing on the size as 3'X3'X4" on the lid, even after all the digging, that lid must weight several hundred pounds!!!!!!

I ended up covering it back up.......again.

What would you have done?

 

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[Kentucky Kache]

Possibly an old hand pump over a spring. Wild horses wouldn't keep me from digging It.

 

[Leon]

After the past week, all I can say is, DIG IT!!!
If you take a look at the post below, you'll know why...

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,22686.msg150091.html#msg150091

I would say, if it's bug'n ya ,, ya got to dig it. Ya never know.
With me, a lot depends on the site I'm at. If I know it has a lot of history to it, I'll probably dig every...
Good luck & Happy hunting~

 

[Larry KS]

Let's hope that it's not a septic tank cover.

 

[Nana40]

Let's hope that? it's not a septic tank cover.

HAHA! That was my first thought too!

Nana

 

[bk]

I would bring a partner and go for it.
Be carefull though.

 

[dcooper1]

I'm almost postitive its not a septic tank. The current drainfield for the house is in the back yard. I too think it may have been some type of well. The biggest mystery to me is the incredible signal it consistently gives - thru approximately 12" of dirt it about banged my ears off. If it was picking up some metal in the "lid" then why would it not have the signal all the way to the edge of the lid, when using my pinpoint probe on the lid it didnt pick up anything until I got to approximately where the inside of the bricks would be. Someone else said it could be a "safe" that just filled with some water because the bricks wern't watertight.

I still think its a "safe", must be full of gold bars!!!!

I will have to rethink taking someone with me to uncover it. I think the lid must weight a couple hundred pounds!!!! Maybe a backhoe would be in order.

 

[seagreen12]

Lever that sucker off! If that doesnt work set up a tripod and rig a hand come along to lift it up and swing it over. I have found all kinds of cool stuff in old wells in the islands
manacles, an old gun hell I have been known to go under with a mask looking for stuff.
good luck!
segreen12
sends

 

[Wasabi]

Dig it man. ?Just take someone with you, especially if it might be a well.
Sounds very exciting, I suppose I would be faced with the same questions you have.
Listen to the post there are a lot of good suggestions from fellow detectorist.
Please let us know what you find and what the outcome is.
I am so curious, much like everyone esle.
Keep on huntin.
Rob

 

[dcooper1]

I know you guys would never believe it but this thing has been keeping me up at night!!!!!
I went back to the location today, with absolutely NO intentions of digging it today.? After hunting for a while (see todays finds in "todays finds") it was getting dark, figured it may be a better time to actually dig it, as to not attract so much attention - even though I do have permission to hunt there I kinda feel funny about digging a huge hole!!!? And then taking the chance of it being absolutely nothing.? ? And then I start thinking about all of the fortunes that have been buried, and the incredible signal that it was giving me thru 14-16" of soil!!!? ?I have told a few friends and a family member, of course all of them have offered to go help me dig it...........I'm just not even sure of doing that.? I have come up with a way that I could dig it and get the lid up far enough by myself, I just need to get the courage to go ahead and dive in......
As I was headed back to my truck at dark, pondering digging,? the owner showed up.? I showed her my finds from the last couple of days, offered her some of them (she refused) and talked to her a little about the property.? I asked her if there was another house on the property....like maybe down that way.......and she said NO, adds even more to the mystery.?
I am going to dig it, its just a matter of when, and if I am going to take anyone with me.?
And speaking of wells.......I am going to do another post on a well that I checked out today. Check that one out.

 

[jbow]

Qurious....

With all the digging you have already done around it why are you hesitant to go ahead and open it up??

My advice to you. Go there tomorrow and go straight over to it and open it up. Don't go metal detecting around for a while or anything...go straight to it and get it over with. That's the best move at this point, imo....

HH,

Julien

 

[JT]

Before you put on a mask and go snorkleing for riches, make sure for your own benefit it's not a septic tank.

 

[Wasabi]

Ha ha, way to go JT, I got a chuckle out of that comment. The visualization cracked me up.
Rob

 

[dcooper1]

I'm hesitant because of some of the posts on here, about people talking too much.? I have only told a few people about it that would have just enough information to be too much just in case I up and quit my job and move!!!!? ?

I am definately going to dig it.? Yes I have done a bit of digging already but even with as much as I have done, it is only a fraction of what actually needs to be done.?

Some other reasons....... I don't want to take a chance on rubbing the landowner the wrong way.? I am quite certain I am the only person who has ever hunted this place, I would probably say legally or illegally, with the amount of "targets" in the ground there is no way anyone has ever hunted it worth a? *&^%.? ?I had thought about digging it at night to help eliminate the possibility of anyone coming over and going "duh - whatcha doin?",? you know they wouldnt be in a hurry to go about their own business but would more than likely want to "help", then what do you do with the "treasure"?? or, how do you explain to the landowner that you dug up the old well for no reason if it turns out to be nothing?? I am pretty certain I have come up with a way to get the lid up far enough to see if the "87" signal on my machine is coming from something in the lid or from inside of the "box".? It will take a bit of digging, I'm guestimating this thing is at least 4'X4' and 16inches in the ground, the lid is approximately 4" thick!!. I recently replaced the round lid on top of my well, I could not lift it by myself and it was no where near this size.
If this thing were back in the woods or out of view of a lot of people then I certainly would have dug it by now.? I am just waiting for the right moment to swoop in, dig it, and get it over with.? Believe me, I'm as anxious as everyone else to see whats in it, I guess you could just say I'm being greedy, overly cautious, or safe.
I will let everyone know after its opened in a time/manner that I am comfortable with.?

 

[Wasabi]

You have every right to be cautious, my way of thinking is like yours to be cautious and wait for the right time.
I will wait in anticipation to here what you may or may not find.
Wish you the best.
Rob

 

[DANNYGEE]

MR COOPER
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!!!
OLD WELLS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR COLLAPSING ONCE DISTURBED!
I DO A LOT OF OLDER HOME RESTORATIONS AND MANY TIMES THE GROUND HAS JUST GIVEN WAY AROUND THESE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT MY NEIGHBOR WAS PUTTING IN AN ABOVE GROUND POOL ONE YEAR AND LATE ONE AFTERNOON WE HEARD SCREAMING COMING FROM THEIR YARD,AND ALL WE SEE IS A PERSON UP TO THEIR ARMPITS IN A HOLE.
WE HAD TO GET BOARDS WITH PLYWOOD TO MAKE A SECURE PLATFORM TO RESCUE HER. ( WE DID THIS WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE & RESCUE TO SHOW)
AFTER RETRIEVING HER, WE LOOKED DOWN THERE AND IT HAD TO BE 40 FEET DOWN WITH WATER ON THE BOTTOM.
IT TOOK ALMOST 80 YARDS TO FILL IT.

WHAT YOU? NEED TO DO IS TO SECURE YOURSELF WITH A ROOFERS ARREST HARNESS TO A TREE OR SOMETHING.
WOULDN'T WANT TO LOOSE YOU BEFORE WE HEAR THE END OF THIS STORY.
AS FOR FINDING ANYTHING IN A WELL THERE IS PLENTY TO FIND. (I HAVE A LIST)

ANYWAY THIS THING YOU HAVE FOUND COULD BE A COVERED WELL OR MAYBE SOME KIND OF DEFUNCT EMERGENCY SHELTER.

KEEP US POSTED!
THE SAGA CONTINUES

 

[Wasabi]

Danny would be interested in hearing what you found in the wells you have discovered, I am referring to your list in this post.
Good advice to DCooper1.
Looking forward to hearing from you as I am sure evryone else is.
Best of wishes to you DC.
Rob

 

[DANNYGEE]

HEY WASABI

WELL THIS IS JUST A PARTIAL LIST OF SOME OF THE STUFF.
MIND YOU I WAS NOT SEARCHING THESE WELLS ON PURPOSE IT KINDA HAPPENED BY ACCCIDENT.
ON A JOB SITE OF A RESIDENCE AT LEAST 150 YRS OLD WE WERE DOING THE EXCAVATION AND UNCOVERED? THE ORIGINAL WATER WELL. AS WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO ROUTINELY FILL IT IN WITH ON SITE SAND I HAPPENED TO LOOK DOWN IN IT AND SAW A BICYCLY TIRE STICKING UP. SO WITH MY CURIOSITY PEAQUED I HAD THE BACKHOE GUY DIG OUT FIRST WHAT HE COULD AND SPREAD IT AROUND ON A FLAT AREA. THIS IS THE RECCOMENDED WAY TO SEARCH, NEVER ENTER THE WELL WITHOUT? A WAY TO GET YOURSELF OUT.

RIGHT AWAY I DISCOVERED MANY OLD BOTTLES, THE OLD BICYCLE WAS ONE OF THOSE WITH THE HUGE FRONT TIRE. I FOUND A SOLID COPPER AND BRASS SHIPS LANTERN, A BRASS CAMED STAINED GLASS WINDOW (MINUS THE WOOD) AND MANY OTHER ARTIFACTS.

THEN AFTER CONVINCING EVERYONE ON THE JOB-SITE THAT WE NEEDED TO? LEAVE THE PILE THERE SO I COULD BRING BACK MY MACHINE TO EXAMINE THE DIRT I WENT TO WORK.

I FOUND NUMEROUS BRASS HINGES AND DOOR KNOBS WHICH WE ACTUALLY REUSED ON PORTIONS OF THE HOUSE.
I AMAZINGLY FOUND A SMALL CACHE OF COINS WHICH WERE IN A GLASS JAR WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN HID BEHIND A BRICK WITHIN REACH OF THE TOP OF THE WELL.
ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS WAS A PERFECTLY PRESERVED COPPER WEATHER VANE.

NOW THIS IS JUST THE STUFF FROM ONE OF THREE WELLS I HAVE EXPLORED.

COOL RIGHT?

 

[dcooper1]

Danny,
Thanks for the info. I do have a tree climbing belt I could use. Its in the middle of a field, closest solid object is about 100 yards away. I have thought about part of my "plan" would be to just pull my vehicle right up to it with all of the tools/equipment I may need in order to get it open, that would of course draw some more attention with the vehicle in the field but then again, it may be less noticable to some because I could kinda hide what I am digging.

I would still love to know if there were actually any wells/septic tanks/spring boxes that anyone knows of that would have had some type of "good" metal in them to give me such an incredible signal at 16" in the ground. If you're not familiar with the White's Spectrum detector, it has a bar graph as one of the indicators of the target. When it detects iron it will give a "bronken" tone as well as a broken reading on the bar graph, meaning there will be many small scattered bars across the graph, when detecting a good solid metal target, it will usually give one good solid bar and sometimes it will have a smaller bar or two on each side of it depending on the metal and how good of a signal from depth and other factors. When I hit this target I gave me a good solid signal, read 87 - EVERY time I swept over it, and only showed ONE single solid bar on my graph from the top to the bottom!!!! That is a pretty rare occurrence, most of the time when sweeping a target multiple times it will change numbers and or graph indicators.
With your building experience, have you come across anything that would fit this description? I have tried to describe it as best as posible in some of my previous posts. From what I have seen of it so far, I'm quite certain it is NOT a septic tank, it may be some type of well but it sure sounded like the water was very close to the top, of course that could have been deceptive just because of how I was listening, couldnt actually get an accurate "hear" on it.
If it is a well, that certainly doesnt explain the signal I was getting, I wouldnt expect any "good" signal from the top of a well!!!! If I am getting a reading from some type of metal in the lid, then I wouldnt expect it to be such a strong signal and as I posted before, the metal reading (from my pinpoint probe) didnt start until I got far enough away from the edge of the lid that I may have actually been reading what was inside the thing.
Someone else recommended getting one of those fishing camera for another well (see post 'one hell of a well') I have been looking at, maybe I should just raise the lid on this one far enough to get one of those in there, that would save a lot of digging and would be less intrusive.
Thanks again, I will let everyone know when I get it open...........................well, maybe if you never hear from me again....you'll know.

 

[DANNYGEE]

MR. COOPER
IS THERE ANY WAY TO POST A PICTURE OF THE LID?
I HAVE SEEN MANY LIDS.
I HAVE COME ACROSS LIDS WITH WIRE REINFORCEMENT IN THE POSSIBLY MADE OF COPPER(THUS THE STRONG SIGNAL) OR GALVANIZED WIRE.
LET ME KNOW

P.S. DONT GET THE CAR TOO CLOSE!!!!!
DANNY