✅ SOLVED privy? should i go in it?

[ohiowhiteguy]

redcardhack and i are thinking bout digging this out..we think it's a privy...not sure.
there is a deep well down the hill from it. there is a pipe that looks like a over flow...
what do you think...
thanks ..
owg...

 

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[Jeff H]

Might not be a privy. Maybe a cistern of some sort. Privies are usually not located above the drinking water source. No matter what it is, it is a confined space and should be treated as such.

 

[osage express]

We find cisterns like that in the ghost towns we hunt.I always stay away from them.But that rock wall i would be on that like stink on a skunk....Osage

 

[Toby1858]

You never know, might be worth an hour of digging just to get an idea of what you have.

 

[surf]

Hello OWG,

I'm thinking cistern, also. Does it seem to bell out from the opening? Is there evidence of mortar?

I've found some nice goodies in cisterns, and would be inclined to dig.

 

[Paleopilot]

redcardhack and i are thinking bout digging this out..we think it's a privy...not sure.
there is a deep well down the hill from it. there is a pipe that looks like a over flow...
what do you think...
thanks ..
owg...

Don't forget the old saying, "curiosity killed the cat"! Test the air before you even THINK about entering any confined space....please!

 

[surf]

Test the air before you even THINK about entering...

Hey Paleo,

How would one do this? My sniffer has been on the fritz for years.

I've never done a real deep cistern, but I would just stand up, cuz the ones in this neck of the woods are seldom deeper than 6'foot.

The concept of cistern snorkeling comes to mind.

Into the deep...

 

[Moonrover]

The rocks in the first photo don't look to have mortar. Is that the case? If so, how the heck could this thing have retained water? Was a house or porch over the opening at one time? Could it have been a cool storage "locker" for food? If that is the case, then people may have had the tendency to store other stuff for security, like a jar of coins.

Just dreaming. Wish I was there helping!

M

 

[Paleopilot]

Hey Paleo,

How would one do this? My sniffer has been on the fritz for years.

I've never done a real deep cistern, but I would just stand up, cuz the ones in this neck of the woods are seldom deeper than 6'foot.

The concept of cistern snorkeling comes to mind.

Into the deep...

Any 'live' bacteria in a confined space can deplete the oxygen. There are many devices available for air quality testing, however you could go the "old school" method like the "Minor's canary" test. Catch a live mouse and toss him in, if he don't croak, your good to go!

 

[HutSiteDigger]

dont look that bad or deep from the photos.. you may find some coins down there.

 

[ohiowhiteguy]

dont look that bad or deep from the photos.. you may find some coins down there.

it looks to be about 3' deep but that is where the bricks fell in. could be and should be deeper..and maybe 10' around.. i kinda thought about it being for storage.
but the drain makes me think different. does anyone have a canary i can borrow?
owg.

 

[aka da Prof]

you might try 'fishing' first with a strong-(rare earth) magnet on nylon chord--

 

[Jack Ryan]

We find cisterns like that in the ghost towns we hunt.I always stay away from them.But that rock wall i would be on that like stink on a skunk....Osage

What is the draw to a rock wall?

Yeah, I'm a newbie.

 

[bigfoot1]

owg....go for it say I.I'd be all over it.I'd prolly screen all dirt coming out.careful and good luck(cave in would suck)

 

[bigfoot1]

welcome jack,
Anytime I see old rock work I am on it like stink onna yeti.Have had many cool finds around and within stuff like that.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Too fancy for a privy. Lined dug well or cistern.

 

[Jack Ryan]

JFYI, that's not a privy. As has been said, it's def a cistern. I've "dipped" a lot of cisterns with a big magnet and a grappling hook. I've never seen one that wasn't full of water and in warm weather they are water, snakes, and mosquitoes. With wild life visible swiming in it I wouldn't be too concerned about methane but if it was summer and didn't see any I sure wouldn't just drop in it. Not even with a good outside man and a life line.

I've done a lot of confined space work.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Oops I was under the impression that Surfs photo was one of the pics of the hole! hmmm ! my bad.

 

[mudd]

dont look that bad or deep from the photos.. you may find some coins down there.

yes 1st thing I thought COINS go in.

and I have been in a few spots like this and I use a small flame or a candle in a box
if you dont think that there is gas in there

 

[capt-zero]

Bring a generator with you and a shop fan. Blow directly into the hole for several hours. Unless there is harmful gas seepage in the hole, it should have enough oxygen after that. Used to do this before going into closed up cofferdams to effect repairs, and it worked well.