I need some help from you experienced relic hunters. I have located what I have been told is an old Texas calvary outpost on private land.
I've never encountered a building like this and could use your help confirming part of the structure. The building, or what is left of it consist of an above ground structure approximately 14 - 16 feet square. There are what look like gun ports on the East and North sides of the building. The above ground structure is double-wall stone construction.
The part I can't figure out has to do with the below ground vault or chamber structure. There is a stone stairwell on the East side of the building leading to the room located under the above ground structure.
This underground room is ~ 10-12' long x 6-8' wide x 7' tall. Like the upper structure, it is completely stone in construction and the roof is arch shaped with nice stone work. The strange thing is there are ten "tombstone shaped" recesses in the walls just above the dirt floor. The recesses are ~ 8 - 10" deep into the wall with nice stone work around each one. There are eight of these recesses on the North and South walls (four on each wall) and two on the West wall. These recesses are ~ 12" wide x 18" tall and 8-10" deep. The oppose each other on the North and South walls.
On the West wall above the two arched recesses is a small flue like opening (~ 4" x 12") that opens up into the structure above.
There are no marking are any fire (burned) marks on any of the arch shaped recesses.
Has anyone ever seen an underground structure like this and if so, what was the function of the tombstone shaped recesses in the three walls?
I'm thinking this structure may date back to the Spanish in Texas and that this may have been an early Spanish outpost and the underground chamber may have religious significance.
Any ideas???
Thanks in advance for your help!
Best regards,
Keith
I've never encountered a building like this and could use your help confirming part of the structure. The building, or what is left of it consist of an above ground structure approximately 14 - 16 feet square. There are what look like gun ports on the East and North sides of the building. The above ground structure is double-wall stone construction.
The part I can't figure out has to do with the below ground vault or chamber structure. There is a stone stairwell on the East side of the building leading to the room located under the above ground structure.
This underground room is ~ 10-12' long x 6-8' wide x 7' tall. Like the upper structure, it is completely stone in construction and the roof is arch shaped with nice stone work. The strange thing is there are ten "tombstone shaped" recesses in the walls just above the dirt floor. The recesses are ~ 8 - 10" deep into the wall with nice stone work around each one. There are eight of these recesses on the North and South walls (four on each wall) and two on the West wall. These recesses are ~ 12" wide x 18" tall and 8-10" deep. The oppose each other on the North and South walls.
On the West wall above the two arched recesses is a small flue like opening (~ 4" x 12") that opens up into the structure above.
There are no marking are any fire (burned) marks on any of the arch shaped recesses.
Has anyone ever seen an underground structure like this and if so, what was the function of the tombstone shaped recesses in the three walls?
I'm thinking this structure may date back to the Spanish in Texas and that this may have been an early Spanish outpost and the underground chamber may have religious significance.
Any ideas???
Thanks in advance for your help!
Best regards,
Keith