mysterious concrete cavity-what is it?

Today my partner and I stumbled upon a mystery on our homestead and are hoping you lovely people can help us solve it. There has been a four by four foot concrete slab in our way for sometime. He made a cut down the center so we'd actually be able to get it out. If only it were so simple! We found a strange concrete formed cavity underneath the slab. It was full of broken glass, random metal, clay pots and other strange stuff. We dug down to the bottom and still have no clue what this is. Towards the narrow end, there is a square hole that goes through the concrete. There's another chunk of the concrete slab on top we've yet to move. Any ideas what this could be?

I have no clue really but can only guess.

In the meaningless drivel forum there is a post to guess what this is?, maybe repost it there for more eyes.

And my guess. I think maybe someone wanted a concrete base that would not move and used the infill but that shape is made by some form or another. Interesting place to dump discarding things. Did you find anything useful?

Oooh, fascinating. I really want there to be a portal to another universe down there. Dig carefully, and make sure you know where your towel is!

Alas, less romantic, as you dig down, you may find an old bit of electrical wire. My guess is that there was an electrical lamp post installed there.

Hmmm clay pots and glass in it.
People find stuff like that in old outhouse spots.

Hmm Craig;
Seems a bit small for an outhouse...
I suspect it was a base for an unknown item that got filled in.
Ahh just read Douglass's suggestion,   I second it!

Maybe a photo of the area around it might throw an idea up?

How close is this to your house or barn?  Many years ago I discovered something sorta ....kinda...like this.   It went to an old cistern.

I have not been about to come up with the name of what it is.

I have seen them made of black plastic so yours was probably in use before plastic.  

The square hole is for a faucet.

I tried Mr Google for "water Box", "outside faucet box", and "Recessed box for faucet" though I am coming up with zero.  

Agree w/ Anne ... some kind of buried utility box, either for water or something else. Can see the "lip" for the (iron) lid. Something like this one:

https://www.pacesupply.com/Catalog/underground-and-utilities/utility-boxes-and-accessories/utility-boxes/chcn36box

Perhaps your property's history might yield the clue, or a neighbor. If you've a metal detector, perhaps there are underground pipes leading away from it, and towards the answer.

Hope there's treasure at the other end (and not a meth lab or something)!

Anne Miller wrote:I have not been about to come up with the name of what it is.

If it's for utility connections or shutoffs, it's usually called a vault or pit.

Thanks, everyone for helping with the name as I now found the plastic ones at the big box store's website.

It is a valve box.

Thank you everyone for your ideas and insights!

James Sullivan wrote:Did you find anything useful?

Not yet. Amidst the pile of broken glass and tetanus, there were a few interesting looking chunks of metal that I can't figure out what they are. Some forks. A geode. A tiny plastic dog balancing a ball on it's nose and a tiny plastic knight figure. Several chunks of bone, looks to be from a pig or a cow. Perhaps discovering this will eventually lead to something useful though. Or at least, interesting.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Oooh, fascinating. I really want there to be a portal to another universe down there. Dig carefully, and make sure you know where your towel is!

Alas, less romantic, as you dig down, you may find an old bit of electrical wire. My guess is that there was an electrical lamp post installed there.

There is a larger hole towards the front...maybe if I just keep digging...Ah well, one has to be careful with portals anyway. Probably too much responsibility right now. I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing without knowing where my towel was.

There were some small pieces of electrical wire in there. It also is next to an alley way.

John F Dean wrote:How close is this to your house or barn?  Many years ago I discovered something sorta ....kinda...like this.   It went to an old cistern.

It's about 20 or 30 feet from the house. Interesting.


Anne, I'm thinking you're right. My instinct when we found it was that it had something to do with water.

Jt Lamb wrote:Perhaps your property's history might yield the clue, or a neighbor. If you've a metal detector, perhaps there are underground pipes leading away from it, and towards the answer.

Hope there's treasure at the other end (and not a meth lab or something)!

There is some history about the place that might tie in with this. It might even lead to solving a mystery we've wondered about for some time. Good idea with the metal detector! Our neighbor has offered to lend us one for investigating such things. Might be time to take him up on it!

This really makes me wish we had more time to see what's under the still intact side of the concrete slab. Maybe we'll find time to investigate further soon and report back. Thanks again, y'all!

Some kid’s time capsule!