Old stone structure?

[undertaker]

I found this old stone structure while deer hunting last fall on the side of a small mountain ridge. Does anyone know what it might have been used for? As you can see in the pics it has a small hole in the center of base, and a 10ft. or larger circular hole on top. I havnt found any trash pits around and I havnt detected it as I dont own a metal detector at this time. Im just interested in knowing what it was and its time period......looks real old.

 

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[undertaker]

closer pic

 

[undertaker]

on top looking into it

 

[undertaker]

looks like a rock plie towards the back

 

[dg39]

Who ever built it certainly took a lot of time and trouble. . Whats the history of the area? Early settlers, etc.?

 

[Jerxs]

Looks like it could be some sort of furnace. We have similar looking structures that were used as I believe iron furnaces.

Jer

 

[PBK]

Here's a photo of one of the rock ovens left behind by crews working on the Kettle Valley Railway in British Columbia, sometime between 1910 and 1916. Just goes to show that some ancient-looking stone structures can be newer than you might think.

 

[dg39]

Here's a photo of one of the rock ovens left behind by crews working on the Kettle Valley Railway in British Columbia, sometime between 1910 and 1916. Just goes to show that some ancient-looking stone structures can be newer than you might think.

It appears to be the right size for your theory. I would most certainly go back and do some exploration on the ruin.
The stones to the back may be the top of the structure.

 

[PBK]

Thanks. However, I really don't have any theory about it, nor have I actually visited the site. I just came across it some time ago at the website below, where the photo is captioned, "90 Year old rock ovens left by the builders of the railbed can be seen near the resort along the KVR."

http://www.chutelakeresort.com/about.html

 

[trk5capt]

We, Don't Have Any Thing Like That Around Here, But It Would Be Very Interesting To Detect A Site Like That. Best Of Luck & Good Hunting. trk5capt...

 

[cryptodave]

It is a furnace... Where I grew up in KY we had them all over the place. They melted the iron ore out of rocks.

 

[cryptodave]

Here is a site that has an illistration of what they looked like when in use: http://www.oldindustry.org/iron.html
If you click on some of the links on this site, you will see many pictures like the one you listed.

And one that is still partially standing http://www.explorekentuckylake.com/lbl/iron.htm (this one was better made than the normal ones like the ones I'm used to and the one in your picture.)

And another pic of another furnace http://www.unquiettomb.com/clintonroad06.html

 

[cryptodave]

Here is a little history about iron ore production in Vermont:

http://rutlandhs.k12.vt.us/jpeterso/apush00_01/fordale.html

 

[mojjax]

ancient lime kiln ?
mojjax

 

[cryptodave]

ancient lime kiln ?
mojjax

I believe they used the lime in the burn process.

 

[PostFatal]

The opening at the bottom doesn't look like it belongs there. It looks more like a place where someone broke in. no idea what it is unless it was a tomb at one time but if it were a tomb or even a furnace I would expect the opening to be better finnished.

 

[cryptodave]

 

[PostFatal]

what? the opening is still neatly finished. in fact the whole structure is.

 

[gollum]

It is a furnace... Where I grew up in KY we had them all over the place. They melted the iron ore out of rocks.

Yeah, a furnace in KY for smelting iron ore! More like a still! My family is from Crittenden Cty, KY (just West of Louisville). There's actually a McChesney Hill in Crittenden Cty. My GGGrandfather was in Sypert's 13th Kentucky Cavalry CSA in the late unpleasantness between the states!

Mike

 

[gollum]

Isn't a draft necessary for smelting?

What do you think the hole in the bottom is for? You can use it to feed wood in at the base of the still cooker, and it naturally draws the air in from the bottom.


Mike