Remember how we all helped Miss C out with theories on the mystery of her blocked off second floor? Well, no I have another poser.
Earlier today, Cindy my wife sent me a note that she'd "found something buried in the garden". See the above pictures. When I got home, i took a quick look and can verify that this is a metal canister, almost like an oil drum, that sounds hollow when you tap on it. It's 13 inches in diameter, and I would guess about two feet deep.
Any ideas what this could be? I don't think it's a tank of any kind, just too small. Someone who buried an oil drum because it was easier than disposing of it? Something - hidden? Treasure? A decapitated head?
I'm tempted to just dig it up at the weekend, but before I went to that trouble, I thought I'd solicit you all for recommendations. Joking aside, this thing has us a little confused.
Another image after the jump with a couple of items added to show scale.
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1. Jimmy Hoffa
2. Pot O' Gold (may include diminuative Irish cliche)
3. Compost bucket
4. Way old flower pot.
5. Sludge.
Good story. I am most curious.
It's not a drum, it's a portal.
Do you know John Malkovich?
knowing where you live, I'm betting it's got body parts in it!!
Jughead?
Remember that John Carpenter movie "Prince of Darkness"? Where they find a canister in a church basement that has the essence of Satan in it?
That was an awesome movie. Maybe there's a betamax copy of it in there.
time capsule, perhaps? how old is your house approximately?
Could be Mutagen. Here's what I would do-pop it open and chuck in a turtle or two. If I'm correct, they'll learn to speak, drastically increase in size, get some serious 'tude and learn Ninjitsu. Then,prepare for some totally tubular times my friend.
it's a hatch
Now maybe you can get off that damn island, or at least figure out why there's a polar bear on the island.
Here in Germany, if you find something largish and metal buried in your yard, you stop digging, you evacuate your house, and you call the Polizei and tell them you may have found a bomb.
I don't know where you live or how high the possibility is that landmines were placed in your area during WWII, but if there's any chance of that at all, please do stop poking the little can o' death and get some help.
Keep in mind I've been awake all night again, I got a zombifying sleep deprivation buzz going on and might very well be blithering...
I hope it's gold. Lots of it, too.
All my ideas come from movies.
Vegas Vacation - Eddie buries money in coffee tins on his acreage
Everything is Illuminated - Jewish villagers bury their valuables rather than hand them over to the nazis when they hear of their approach
The time capsule idea was neat too.
Maybe it's just an upside down watering can?
I'm going to guess that it's an old septic tank, and you are just seeing the clean out port. It may be bigger underneath.
Awwwww crap......you found our intern that I told you left because Echo kept trying to get in her bed to take pics of himself to post on here.
It could be 2-4-5 Trioxin?
One of those barrels fom "The Return of the Living Dead"? Watch out, before opening, see if is there a mummified body inside.
fom = from
Damn typo!
Joking aside... It would be better to call some company that can handle hazardous substances before opening this barrel... Who knows what can be in there.
Down here, if you find something valuable buried in your lot, it belongs to the government. You just own what's above. So, I'd call a company and if it happened to be a treasure, I'd give them a share for their silence... I don't know how these things are ruled over there...
In the US, if you own the lot, you own what is buried. That probably doesn't apply to dead bodies, but I know it applies to buried cash.
I don't know where you live, but it could be the surface casing protecting an old domestic drinking and irrigation water well. If the domestic well is 6 inches in diameter (which is typical), then the surface casing would be 12-13 inches. Just a thought. Either way, I would think twice about digging it up without contacting the fire department...who knows what it is...chemicals, oil, etc.
I'm going with Miss C...old septic tank. But hold your ears, in case of jughead, just to be sure.
Good mystery. I think you can eliminate oil drum since it doesn't have a hole on the top for filling. Although it does have the same metal rounded edge and lower indentations. Also at 13" diameter would be too narrow.
If you live in an older neighborhood I would find an oldster and ask them. You could also go down to the courthouse and take a gander at your property records.
Or you could just take a chance and start digging it the rest of the way up.
Definitely Hoffa. How close are you to the 50 yard line at Giants Stadium?
My first thought was Hoffa, but judging by the size, I don't think it's him.
I'll bet it's a pet dog or cat that a previous owner buried.
If you are worried that it may be an explosive,shoot the bottom of the can with a .22, that should detonate it. The old explosives will explode with impact.
Hopefully it's not body parts.
Maybe it's a bunker, and the former owner of the house seeing that the Russians were not going to bomb the US anymore, decided to seal it.
Imagine how many tomato soup and spam cans are buried down there...
The mob doesn't bury someone in a life sized coffin Dave. They chop you up, stuff you in a barrel and save space. That could be him.
Jeez, read a book.
The anus of a large metal worm?
I change my guess. Definitely "The anus of a large metal worm." Brilliant.
Indeed... The best so far!
Yellow Dog, why don't you register and join us on the forum?
Could be the secret hideout of those worms from Tremors.
There is going to be a really giant spring snake in that barrel when you open it, and it's going to make you jump. You might even let out a little yelp.
And then everyone will start laughing except you. And while you'll logically be able to appreciate that it must have been funny, really, deep down inside, you'll harbor a grudge towards those who laughed at you. I mean, how would they like to have been the one to open it? The German guy said it could be a bomb for crying out loud. You're risking your very life, and they're laughing. Bastards!
My guess is septic. Your best bet is to strategically place C4, and see what happens when you set it off.
I believe the consensus here is to forget what's in there and blow the damn thing up. I know a few ex-military folks.....
If it is tin, or any other thin metal, it doesn't seem to me that it would be septic. Wouldn't that more likely be a cast iron pipe leading to the tank? Do you have septic now? If not, and your house was built many years ago, this probably isn't septic.
If you can, dig around it to see if there are any markings that would indicate age. Can you get to the bottom of it easily? If so, it's probably a safe location for a former tenant (it does look like it is easily accessible and in what might have been a garden at one time), or it is a container for a former tenant's former pet.
If it has a lid that looks like it was easily removable at one time, I would definitely open it (carefully). If it is not, I wouldn't want to be the first to puncture it open.
I forgot your in Jersey. It's probably illegally dumped toxic waste.
Wah, I need Mr. Fireman to hold my hand! Pussies. Just open the damn thing!
I think a makeshift septic cap is what some of us are suggesting, not an actual septic system.
Gotcha ... you mean like an outhouse was there at one time.
Definitely have to explore that for treasures!
It's a Super Mario World Warp Zone Portal.
Mario and Luigi locked it after returning from their last adventure, to make sure King Kopa and his evil mushrooms and turtles won't come here to bring the destruction to this realm...
A time capsule?
Perhaps, a makeshift coffin for a large pet?
Maybe even the remains of a missing person?
Maybe it's a buried mini keg? mmmmmmm mini keg. Maybe it still has Grolsch in it and we can have a mini party?
Seriously though there's usually a company you should call BEFORE you dig that marks where water, gas etc. lines are. If you have not done so I would before you get into something dangerous.
I'd ask that friend of yours who knows a guy who does "insert unionized labor here," then ask that guy.
That looks a lot like the time capsule I talked my dad into helping me bury when I was a kid. Mine had pictures and a letter to the future and stuff. Unfortunately, my folks don't own the house anymore, so even if I found the treasure map (marked with an X, naturally) I probably wouldn't be able to find it.
We used a Folger's coffee can, and I remember he did soemthing to the top to reinforce the plastic lid.
Judging by the other answers, you should probably consider digging carefully around it, to see if it's attached to anything.
Shouldn't Geraldo be consulted at some point?
Perhaps this the canister leading to Capone's treasures.
I'd call him first. That way the camera's are there to document whatever happens.
Thanks to everyone for all the thoughts and advice. I did a little more digging around it last night, and that just made things more mysterious. On the down side, it looks like it has caved in on the side over the years, so anything inside that's not in a watertight container may be long decayed. But on the plus side, anything nasty may have long leaked into the ground.
But come the weekend, I'll do some real archeology and document it all for you to see.
Be careful at this point...
And well, if there were something nasty that has leaked already, either it's long gone or the dirt may be hazardous... Although I prefer thinking of the first alternative, take care, especially with the kids.
If toxic substances are involved, I image your kids will be joining in the fun.
Didn't the toxic avenger come from the swamps of Nutley?
Wait, Wait. Call Geraldo, let's get this on tape!!
"...And on that fateful day, mild-mannered Scaramouch discovered terror and glory and became a hero. Then, he proved it -- beyond all shadow of a doubt -- as MutatoMouch!"
I'm putting my money on deceased family pet... you may get some cool bones out of it.
Probably and old well head that has been sealed off.
Hey! What was it? You gonna leave us hanging bro? This is worser than Lost.
Nothing is worse than "Lost," E.
Amen Reverend JW.
Did we ever find out what it was?