Weird foundation? Help

[BrettCinci]

any idea what this is? It's in the woods off to the side of our drive way at our new house in Cincinnati. Climbed in it to use my metal detector and got some decent hits but it's so full of sticks that it'll take some time to empty out. No more than 3 feet deep but the dirt is soft and seems like the previous owner used it for compost

 

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[digger dad]

I have seen old structures like that in my area around where a spring would come up out if the ground . Maybe the spring dried up over time .

 

[Kevlardini]

That looks like a fun time! It can be hard to tell what a foundation was exactly built for sometimes. I love using this site.
NETR Online ? Historic Aerials
Great maps, maybe it will show what used to stand there.
But definitely. Work on getting those sticks out. And make sure to not just detect in it but around it!

 

[kcm]

My guess is it used to be a root cellar for storing vegetables - back in the day before A/C and refrigerators/freezers. Might also have doubled as a storm cellar?

All the loose dirt is obviously from the decomposition of all the leaves that fall into the hole. I bet there's a good supply of fish bait there as well!

 

[earl1120]

Could have been a privie how far is it from your house would your house have been on a sanborn map

 

[Tony in SC]

My replies have all been covered, but how big is it ?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Root cellar, ice house, well house, smoke house.

Privy might have used a stone foundation but that would be unusual.