Tell me what you see, tell me what you think...

[airborne1092]

I have my own ideas, but I want to hear from experienced and/or knowledgeable folks on my hunches.

What do you see in this sat shot from google maps?

[xr7ator]

Well, there's two lines running along the water. Trails or Wagon trail? I can't tell how wide the creek or river is so they could be way wide for a wagon. The little bushes are all in a row as well as other sure signs of an old homestead, imo. I don't have any experiaince looking at sat shots from google maps...

[Toecutter]

Looks like a old home site judging by the square and trees off to the right of the square?? am I right?

It also looks like the river could have originally went thew the area of what looks like a homestead...

[xr7ator]

Now I see a raod coming in from the lower left corner to the site. This tells me the two trails I see along the water are way to wade to be one wagontrail...just like I thought initially. Also, I see what looks like an old phone pole on the right side just above the middle about 1.5 inches in from the right (with the pic enlarged)
Yep. Looks like a great place to do some tectin and maybe diggin'.

[chub]

I agree, possibly a home site. It appears there are a few headstones? under the lines of trees? Im also curious about the two poles. Its hard to say wether the river forked and ran right to left or weather the water ran down from left to right past the site and into the river.. There also appear to be some odd craters or wells (well doesnt make sense being so close to water)

What are your thoughts?

chub

[airborne1092]

Yes, we all think alike and that brings me validation that i'm not just seeing what I want to see. This is a really remote site and I could certainly poke around unmolested.

What struck me as significant were two initial items;

first, the symmetry of the green vegetation looks like an old foundation, where moisture collects and stays on/in the ground longer.

Second, was the orchard or garden are at the one o'clock position.

these both look like something man-made in the area. the third thing I noticed right away is the large tree on the edge of the supposed foundation line, looks like neglected landscaping.

Other interesting points are, the holes that Chub (love that moniker, BTW!) mentioned are common in this area, alkaline ponds and dried up bodies of water on basalt. I believe they are a privy and a well. This site sits on a bluff above the river (toecutter.) It's difficult to see the cliffs because of both the severity of the terrain and the sat photo quality. Also, there is a small primitive road just off frame at the 9 o'clock position. the power lines are simple, and I would say this is a homestead, built probably in the very late 1800's (about 1895 or so,) and was probably abandoned in the 1950s. The weather is pretty brutal in this area, so where there might be a structure still standing in other areas, this place is slammed with prairie torrents of driving rain, the baking sun, and subfreezing temps in the winter with a good amount of snow. Also, the wind is a constant here making it pretty harsh.

There is an abandoned sheep ranch about 10 miles south of this site, with many building still standing including the home. Local farmers have most likely used the structures for storage since it shuttered operations in the early 1950s. I'm excited about both sites, and and reluctant to post the second because of a little FOMO! lol

There is a flat area just below the alleged home site and looks to be maybe where the residents parked as a sort of 'country portico.' I can see a potential location for an outbuilding - chicken house, stable, paddock, or something immediately to the left of the site. the tracks you see entering from the left are most likely more recent, from curious area farmhands to mountain bikers looking for a spot to park/start/explore. Also, the lush green belt may be a seepage and most likely contains a watering hole as (IMO) is evident by the game trail penetrating it directly from the bottom.

My idea is, this would be a great site to spend some time exploring, certainly relics, probably bottles from an old trash pile, and probable some coinage still in the ground. This site is WELL off the beaten path and about 90 minutes drive mostly on primitive roads, so I believe nails would be more common than beer tabs. There is one farm house about 5 miles away, at the top of the photo and that person is most likely responsible for plowing the surrounding fields. think a whole twp worth of irrigable land.

Thank you all for taking a look and giving it an earnest inspection!

[xr7ator]

If you get out there please let us know how it goes and thanks for posting.

[HeatherM]

Yes, we all think alike and that brings me validation that i'm not just seeing what I want to see. This is a really remote site and I could certainly poke around unmolested.

What struck me as significant were two initial items;

first, the symmetry of the green vegetation looks like an old foundation, where moisture collects and stays on/in the ground longer.

Second, was the orchard or garden are at the one o'clock position.

these both look like something man-made in the area. the third thing I noticed right away is the large tree on the edge of the supposed foundation line, looks like neglected landscaping.

Other interesting points are, the holes that Chub (love that moniker, BTW!) mentioned are common in this area, alkaline ponds and dried up bodies of water on basalt. I believe they are a privy and a well. This site sits on a bluff above the river (toecutter.) It's difficult to see the cliffs because of both the severity of the terrain and the sat photo quality. Also, there is a small primitive road just off frame at the 9 o'clock position. the power lines are simple, and I would say this is a homestead, built probably in the very late 1800's (about 1895 or so,) and was probably abandoned in the 1950s. The weather is pretty brutal in this area, so where there might be a structure still standing in other areas, this place is slammed with prairie torrents of driving rain, the baking sun, and subfreezing temps in the winter with a good amount of snow. Also, the wind is a constant here making it pretty harsh.

There is an abandoned sheep ranch about 10 miles south of this site, with many building still standing including the home. Local farmers have most likely used the structures for storage since it shuttered operations in the early 1950s. I'm excited about both sites, and and reluctant to post the second because of a little FOMO! lol

There is a flat area just below the alleged home site and looks to be maybe where the residents parked as a sort of 'country portico.' I can see a potential location for an outbuilding - chicken house, stable, paddock, or something immediately to the left of the site. the tracks you see entering from the left are most likely more recent, from curious area farmhands to mountain bikers looking for a spot to park/start/explore. Also, the lush green belt may be a seepage and most likely contains a watering hole as (IMO) is evident by the game trail penetrating it directly from the bottom.

My idea is, this would be a great site to spend some time exploring, certainly relics, probably bottles from an old trash pile, and probable some coinage still in the ground. This site is WELL off the beaten path and about 90 minutes drive mostly on primitive roads, so I believe nails would be more common than beer tabs. There is one farm house about 5 miles away, at the top of the photo and that person is most likely responsible for plowing the surrounding fields. think a whole twp worth of irrigable land.

Thank you all for taking a look and giving it an earnest inspection!

I have the hardest time "seeing" things when using google earth. Can you somehow draw on this picture for us to "show" what you see? I have been trying to learn to recognize old foundations and the like and just can't "see" it.

[chub]

There may also be something under the trees next to the square area. XR7ator sees a telephone pole and I think there are two... but normally they run along a road for access?

What is most baffling about the two "poles" is that their shadow appears to be running OPPOSITE to the shadows cast by the trees

Chub

[chub]

maybe I was high, the shadows on the poles do work - the pole on the left is still odd

Chub

[airborne1092]

So IMO;
The square is where I believe the old foundation to be.
The circle, I believe is the loc for an old outbuilding.
The triangle is where I'm certain a watering hole or old well is. My evidence being the lushness of the immediate area is evident of a neglected well or a spring. Doubtful it's just a seasonal depression where moisture collects as evidence by the well used game trail entering directly from the 5:30 position.
The squggly arrows is where I believe the residents used to access the home.
The white arrow I believe to be pointing at the old porch.
And finally, the pink arrows are indicitive of intelligent planting and strikes me as not natural.

[HeatherM]

So IMO;
The square is where I believe the old foundation to be.
The circle, I believe is the loc for an old outbuilding.
The triangle is where I'm certain a watering hole or old well is. My evidence being the lushness of the immediate area is evident of a neglected well or a spring. Doubtful it's just a seasonal depression where moisture collects as evidence by the well used game trail entering directly from the 5:30 position.
The squggly arrows is where I believe the residents used to access the home.
The white arrow I believe to be pointing at the old porch.
And finally, the pink arrows are indicitive of intelligent planting and strikes me as not natural.

Awesome! Thank you for explaining with the markings. Now get out there and let us know if what you suspect is right!

[Mackaydon]

Due west of your circle is a dark line (trail?) running NE/SW that appears to dead end at the SW end at a dark spot; perhaps another structure.
Don.....

[releventchair]

Water. And scars healing from human traffic/activity.

Don't want an answer , it's your site find...But the river(?) peters out there. As far as floating it appears to be doable.
Wondering if it was the end of the line for a boat?

A sheep station is a slight possibility if related to the homestead "neighboring it".
Water away from the river/creek whatever it is would be safer for watering stock. And plus if freezing weather avoids the danger of ice added to getting in and out.
A windmill or spring or well would be desired. For humans too!

Apples had multiple uses. Heck , oaks did too. With more acorn meal consumed than cereal grains here at one time.
Plus a coffee substitute. Or ,just added to flour to stretch it out. An established homestead would welcome them all .
And as ever , a lilac shrub/tree or flowers gifted to a lady headed out to a new , or yet another go of it had to be planted and encouraged.. If a woman was around.
Add kids and the odds go up of relics scattered about. Woe be to the family if Ma's prized silver set came up short a spoon....But kids were kids too.

[airborne1092]

I MDed a homesite a few years back, with permission from the construction co. that owned it, and found a great little western style cap gun from the 50's. No coins but the cap gun. The house creeped me out and I had a hard time looking at the ground with my back to the house.