Metal slabs in creeks.

[HawgBonz]

This is the second set of these I've found about midway down a couple of adjoining spring fed creeks. Only found these 2 thus far at this site but found 3 at the other.
At the other site they were stood up at the upstream side of a small "race track" shaped depression in the creek bed. They're either iron or steel and ~1" thick.
I do know that the folks in this area were much into making "likker" as most tributaries have evidence of a still on'em sommers.
These 2 little creeks are the only ones I've found these slabs on and I have no idea what the function of these slabs would be.

 

[Windini]

At first I thought barrel staves, but way to big. Kettle rim/rib?

Or part of an innocuous (i.e. not still-related) farm implement.

I love finding old stuff...

 

[DangerRuss]

Are they pieces of leaf springs? The overload springs on some packs are really thick like that. And are tapered like that toward the ends.
Do they look torch cut or cracked off at the ends that are in the leaves in your pic?

 

[beamernc]

Probably driven into the creek bed vertically to fashion a small dam to increase the volume of water for either a still or water wheel.

 

[Thatonedude]

Are there any rock formations indicative of an old, small dam? May be retainers for a sluice gate system.

 

[HawgBonz]

Lemme see can I dig up those older pics of the other site.
IIRC, the edges are fairly clean cut and smooth..

ETA: Not seeing the other pics. I'll hafta take mo' betta pics of these and the others next time I'm thru there.
Prolly this coming week. It ain't like I don't go in that bot fairly regular.

@Thatonedude There was a definite bathtub size depression on the downstream side of the other site. Some ~2"ish pipe as well.

 

[HawgBonz]

Finally remembered to go thru there and take pics. Also found another large metal piece in the same AO as these.



Here's the other similar site I found a coupla years ago.. These 3 pieces are very similar. In the first pic the rocks form an oval. It's been covered with debris since they clear cut Cable Tract over the last few years. But you can still see it. There's also some pipe and a still site a lil downstream from there. FWIW it's just below this rock formation that prolly hasn't changed much in a looong time..


Here's the other metal I found at the first site.

 

[Windini]

Failed Alien colonies.

 

[Big Dave]

Can't help. Like others say maybe old dam or sluice parts? I know I see metal in creeks some while hiking but usually can attibute them to either old logging railroad items or even old pant that stood nearby. The Kawana area of Wilsons Creek watershed comes to mind.