I'd say the really corroded, rusty, frozen stuck one would be your oldest. The shinier ones that still move being the newer ones.....LOL I haven't a clue! They are called foothold traps if that helps you research them. And the many will have the manufacturers name on it. When they were first used they were handmade by the local blacksmith.
there are no houses around the cave its on the side of a mountain that use to be part of a indian reservation the nearest house is probaly a mile or 2 away
What ever it is looks like it was man made, too small to be a root cellar. Very interesting, I would have poked a long stick in there to try and find out how deep it was? take duck tape and a long stick, put your phone on video duck taped on the stick to look in there. If I was in the woods like that where I'm at I'd be still picking ticks off me!
They are not wolf traps. More like possum or skunk traps. Too small for coon. The bottom one is a jump trap. When sprung it goes up higher on the animals leg for a firmer grip.
there are no houses around the cave its on the side of a mountain that use to be part of a indian reservation the nearest house is probaly a mile or 2 away
You mean a mile or 2 away NOW. Like wille said above it could of been a cabin site. Look closely... you might have some real fun soon. Good job and best of luck... Brad