Underground Enclosure -- What Is It?

[Erik in NJ]

A friend of mine in the area (northern NJ) told me an interesting story that when he was digging the footings for his patio that he located an enclosure that was underground behind his house, not too far from it I assume. He said that it was round (about 5' or 6' in diameter) and about 9' deep. The walls were made of rough fieldstone. I'm not sure if there was a top on it, but I assume so. It's unfortunately covered now by the patio, but I told him he should try and cut and entrance to it somehow for the historical interest. His house is about 100 - 150 years old.

Any ideas on what this could have been?

 

[Ex-Sox]

Did it look like this? We have lots of fieldstone lined wells and cisterns here. Many of them, such as this one, has no top and has water in them so caution is advised when hunting around old homeplaces. Would be devastating to be hunting alone and fall into one of these.

 

[daryllpugh]

It's a hand dug well in the old days thats how they got water

 

[Erik in NJ]

I'll show it to my friend, but I'msure that you're correct - I haven't seen it. When they were finished using it would they have dropped trash into it such that excavation would yield some interesting stuff? Any opportunity to detector near or in it? Thanks for any info!

 

[Ex-Sox]

Lots of great stuff has come out of wells and outhouses!! Just got to be extra careful for obvious reasons and never do it by yourself!!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Thanks. What do you do? Dig and sift or detect? I don't know if this guy will open it up, but it would be very interesting. I do have permissionto detect his yard.

 

[Ex-Sox]

I would recommend talking to someone who is experienced with this type of stuff. The only way to get me down a in a hole that deep is to throw me in it! I would definitely detect his yard though!!