Cellar hole unknown, please help

[radarwill]

I found this ordinary 25' x 25' cellar hole the other day. It's around 5' deep.
It has a stone structure in the middle that measures around 8' x 8'.
I assumed this was a central hearth or something, which I've seen before.
Upon closer examination I realized the center structure was capped off at the top level with the surrounding foundation. What really caught my eye is seeing the 2' x 2' opening at the bottom.
Do you know what this stone structure in the center of the cellar hole is?
If it's a fireplace, how can it breath with the top sealed off.
Thanks for any info.
The site dates around late 1800 to early 1900 judging by the coins I have found.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

Crypt?

 

[ivan salis]

storage for wood for the hearth ?

 

[leddel]

thats a center built hearth for the massive center fireplaced chimney and they often had a storage hole built in one side , i've detected dozens of them type of cellars they date from the mid 1700's to early 1800's best of luck to ya

 

[flyinguy]

nice cellar, radar! what did you find around it? my old house, a lot of old ones, had/have cisterns for water storage. 3 walls of mine are still there. some one opened it and put the water heater in it.

 

[radarwill]

nice cellar, radar! what did you find around it? my old house, a lot of old ones, had/have cisterns for water storage. 3 walls of mine are still there. some one opened it and put the water heater in it.

It's very hard going with all the iron around.
So far I have found a 1909 and 1875 IH, and an old skeleton key.