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Moving into a new place can be beyond exciting. Especially if it’s your first home. You get to pick the furniture, assign the rooms, and plan decorations. There’s a reason we say, “Home is where the heart is” – we want to love our home and for it to be a safe haven after a long and exhausting day.

But what about the times you find some strange-looking items left by the previous tenants or owners? It can definitely sour the homemaking experience. From creepy dolls, clowns, ritualistic symbols, and a generally eerie atmosphere – the dwellers from this list have found all sorts of unsettling things upon moving in. So check them out, and don’t forget to upvote the most intriguing entries you like. Do you have a creepy house story yourself? Let us know in the comments!

Bored Panda spoke about mystical and strange things in homes with Sterling Moon. She's a tarot reader, psychic medium, folk magician, animal communicator, published author, podcaster, and educator. We chatted about haunted houses and what to know before moving into a new home.

More info: Sterling Moon | Talking to Spirits: A Modern Medium's Practical Advice for Spirit Communication | Instagram

#1

I Bought A 200-Year-Old Flat And Found A Hidden Door Under The Stairs

I Bought A 200-Year-Old Flat And Found A Hidden Door Under The Stairs

So my flat is a "basement flat". There has been no mention of anything underneath me, verbally or on the deeds. We were curious about storage under the stairs and decided to take a look.

erincloudy , erincloudy Report

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Javelina Poppers
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had some creepy and really unfriendly neighbors building a new home and we watched them doing some major excavating and laying iron beams on their own before the final concrete pad was poured. They sold and moved away years later and the new neighbors invited everyone over for a get acquainted party. My wife asked about the basement and they stared and said there was no basement in the house. This set off a hunt by 10 people and finally in the middle bedroom closet under the carpet was a steel trapdoor with a ladder leading to a roughly 20x20 room under the house that wasn't listed when the house sold or on county records.

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Some entries on this list might really creep you out, even if you don't consider yourself a believer. We rarely want to find a creepy doll in a cupboard or some (probably) satanic symbols on the floor. And while some people might not think anything of it and just laugh it off, others look at this kind of stuff pretty seriously.

Realtor writes about how people have found all sorts of creepy stuff in their homes. Bewitched skeletons, taxidermy nightmares, voodoo dolls, and mystery ashes. So it's not unusual to come across weird things in a new house. And some people even reach out to psychics or paranormal investigators to rid their homes of the bad vibes. 

Although I'm a skeptic myself, I often enjoy reading paranormal stories. I'm probably operating on this kind of logic: just because it hasn't happened to me (yet) doesn't mean that it isn't true.

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#2

There's A House In My Attic

There's A House In My Attic

Finally went back up to get some good pictures. Just as creepy as I remember. They also left a toilet still working in the basement. 
There is a hole leading to another attic but I can't get a ladder up there, unless I bring the ladder I used to enter the attic. But I really don't wanna close off my only escape route.

CatchingWindows , CatchingWindows Report

#3

Found This In The Storage Area Of The House We Bought 2 Years Ago

Found This In The Storage Area Of The House We Bought 2 Years Ago

I was grabbing our coolers out of storage for the summer and found this above the garage. The table in the middle has a conch shell, a jar with a bundle of sage, and a vase of ashes. If anyone knows what this is please let me know…

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The Alchemist
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It the Norse Vegvisir symbol. "It itself means something like “way finder”; it is Vegr (way) and Visir (shower). It is an eight-pointed shape, with each point having a unique design. The "vegvísir" or "Viking Compass" aids navigation, ensuring one doesn't lose their way." It's for general protection and guidance. Being concerned about this is like being concerned about St Christopher.

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Is a haunted house always a bad thing? We get used to this idea from films, books, and television. A house that has spirits or some kind of supernatural energy within it is most often portrayed as threatening and unsafe. Tarot reader and medium Sterling Moon tells Bored Panda that this isn't always the case. 

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"Many people have had the experience of walking into a place and feeling an overwhelming sense of peace or belonging," she says. "Sometimes, that can be due to the presence of kind spirits who care about the space they  or [a] residual good energy left by previous inhabitants."

#4

My House Doesn't Turn 100 For Five More Years, And I Don't Have A Creepy Basement, But I Do Have This Absolutely Terrifying Underground Bomb Shelter In My Backyard

My House Doesn't Turn 100 For Five More Years, And I Don't Have A Creepy Basement, But I Do Have This Absolutely Terrifying Underground Bomb Shelter In My Backyard

I will eventually get around to posting about the house, as it is a super interesting property.

Until then, I figured I would show the most unique feature, the approximately 30x10 underground bomb shelter. It was built in 1961, and I have the original owner’s manual and bill of sale stored away. I will try to find those soon. Power no longer works, but the water still runs. This is located in Central Florida, making it even more rare. We don’t have many underground structures here.

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#5

Typewriter Made Of Teeth

Typewriter Made Of Teeth

ashleyfryer , ashleyfryer Report

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neytjie
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Formerly locked? So they opened a door they had no right to open and found some weird, probably entirely innocent stuff. I'd be worried more about what kind of guests they are than about the owner

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#6

These Bare Footprints Outside My Living Room Window

These Bare Footprints Outside My Living Room Window

Weren't there when we got home. Were there a couple of hours later. They clearly led up to the living room window, where we had been sitting and watching TV. Week 2 in our new home. Also, only the right foot.

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Sterling Moon gives us some insights into how homeowners can know when there's a presence in their homes. "In general, the first inklings that a space is haunted will come through one's subtle senses," the medium explains. "A sense of being watched and invasive dreams are common. Other signs include hearing disembodied voices or strange noises, flickering lights, objects moving, things like that."

#7

My Husband Was Working In The Crawlspace Of Our 1901 Home And Almost Crawled Into This Uncovered Well

My Husband Was Working In The Crawlspace Of Our 1901 Home And Almost Crawled Into This Uncovered Well

Stuff I found in my Victorian home/yard: A separate opening somewhere in the crawlspace (it’s a huge crawlspace); Old shower for the miners (it works); The stand with all the 50s stuff in; Painting left in the attic; All of the pieces that were cut off the legs for some reason.

definitelynotagurl , psxcwdwvmt31415 Report

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#8

My Friend Went To Visit A House For Rental, This Is What He Found In The Garden

My Friend Went To Visit A House For Rental, This Is What He Found In The Garden

paskaliw Report

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whineygingercat
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone knows a house is not a home till you have a pet cemetary in the backyard

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#9

We Found This Mask Under Our Bedroom Floor. Now What?

We Found This Mask Under Our Bedroom Floor. Now What?

My husband was pulling out the floorboards and found this mask.

It's very much a funeral mask, no doubt, It's a plaster cast and I'm sure the person must have been no longer alive (or at least unconscious) because one of the eyelids was very slightly open when the imprint of the face was made.

It's a middle-aged woman, it looks like she had no eyebrows but no other distinctive signs. Nothing is written on the cast, there's only a little hook at the back that looks like the mask could be mounted on a wall.

The house I live in is a classic Victorian house that was converted into flats a while ago. I don't know how it ended up under the floor. There wasn't anything specific next to it, only gravel and soil. The whole thing is very mysterious.

I don't know what to do with it. Would it be bad luck to sell it? I don't know how else to dispose of it. I'm not too keen on keeping it in the flat, it's super super creepy.

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sofacushionfort
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

L’Inconnue de la Seine, a common curio long ago. https://cpreducatorsinc.com/cpr-doll-face/#:~:text=Peter%20Safar%20and%20Asmund%20Laerdal,kissed%20face”%20of%20all%20time.

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Sterling Moon advises not to jump to conclusions too fast. Sometimes, the explanations for weird things happening in your house can be very simple. "We always have to explore mundane reasons for any strange phenomenon that we experience, like making sure there aren't electrical problems and getting used to the normal noises of a new house," she emphasizes.

#10

I Just Moved Into A Place And The Garage Light Was Busted, So I Looked For A New Bulb In One Of The Cabinets

I Just Moved Into A Place And The Garage Light Was Busted, So I Looked For A New Bulb In One Of The Cabinets

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#11

This Shelf In The Closet Of Our New Home Was An Upside-Down, Wooden Ouija Board

This Shelf In The Closet Of Our New Home Was An Upside-Down, Wooden Ouija Board

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StPaul9
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ouija board, still a trademark of Parker Brothers, purveyors of fine toys. It's not ghosts, it's you tricking yourself when using it.

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We were curious to know whether previous inhabitants could leave any sort of energy behind them. "Absolutely," Starling Moon says. "It's like the feeling of walking into a room where two people have just had an argument and being able to feel the tension. There are also theories that certain building materials like quartz, limestone, and even brick are more likely to take on energetic imprints, which can enhance the residual activity," the medium adds.

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#13

Found A Bulletproof Vest In A Box Hidden Inside My Wall

Found A Bulletproof Vest In A Box Hidden Inside My Wall

I was cleaning out my new apartment, wiping walls down, and patching up holes. When I cut into one of the walls, I looked inside for any signs of rodents or stuff and I noticed this small wooden box. It was screwed shut with 9 screws. When I opened it up, I found a pretty old bulletproof vest. I asked my landlord if it's his and he said that it must have belonged to a woman that lived there about 10 years ago that turned out to be a big criminal. The woman got arrested one night at that apartment because one of her guns misfired into the ceiling of where my landlord lives. When the police ransacked the apartment, they found 16 firearms, and stuff to make explosives. The woman is still in prison, too.

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#14

So This Was In The Backyard Of My New Place

So This Was In The Backyard Of My New Place

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#15

Saw This During A Virtual Tour Of A House. What Are The Chances We Buy This House And A Week Later The Doll Is Back In That House?

Saw This During A Virtual Tour Of A House. What Are The Chances We Buy This House And A Week Later The Doll Is Back In That House?

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There are some simple ways to get rid of something the previous inhabitants left, Sterling Moon says. "You can usually dispel residual hauntings through doing things that make you happy – singing, laughing, and bringing joy to the space. Regular thorough cleaning with the windows open also helps."

#16

I Recently Moved Into A New House. Today Was A Nice Day, So I Decided To Open The Window

I Recently Moved Into A New House. Today Was A Nice Day, So I Decided To Open The Window

MVPanthersFan11 Report

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Kirsten Kerkhof
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If those are flies, you can vacuum them up and then just keep an eye on them returning. Over here we call them Cluster Flies and they are basically hibernating. By getting rid of them and then doing that for a number of years to come, they will go and find another place to stay. If they are not flies, find an industrial sized flame thrower.

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#17

Friend Bought A House With A Doll In It. They Refuse To Remove It

Friend Bought A House With A Doll In It. They Refuse To Remove It

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#18

I Moved Into A New House In A Rural Area Yesterday. Found This In The Backyard Today

I Moved Into A New House In A Rural Area Yesterday. Found This In The Backyard Today

Story: my wife and I bought a new home closer to my new job. We moved in yesterday and are unpacking. I was looking around the property for the main water shut-off (the first thing you should locate when moving into a new house) and I saw the corner of what appeared to be the cement housing of the main water shut-off poking out of the leaves. As I cleared them away I quickly realized the structure was very different from your typical housing for those types of shut-offs and there was no cover for it. Clearing more leaves I found this grave marker next to the housing. It was starting to rain so I snapped a quick photo with my phone to show my wife. I cleared more leaves away and there was a small cement box. Baby-sized. It was open on top, I assume the headstone used to rest there. Tomorrow I'm heading to the cemetery where the baby was supposedly buried to see if I could find out if it was just an old marker or if I had an infant grave for real.

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Anagram margana
Community Member
10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From Ancestry.com: JESSIE WAYNE BROWN - Birth - 18 Aug 1940 • Mississippi, USA; Death - 1 Apr 1941 • Mississippi, USA; Burial: Boonville, Mississippi. Parents were William Charlie Brown (1921--2003) and Annie Sue Smith Brown (1921-1988)

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Tarot reader and medium Sterling Moon also has some advice for people who are planning to move into a new home. She says it's important to get acquainted with the house itself, even if for just a few minutes. The best thing people can do to avoid getting a nasty surprise a week or a month later is to spend at least a few minutes in every room of the space, Sterling Moon says.

#19

Miniature Door That Leads To Extra Room Inside Of Basement Bedroom

Miniature Door That Leads To Extra Room Inside Of Basement Bedroom

Not really sure if this is a root cellar or a fallout shelter or just some kind of sub-basement?

This_iz_America Report

#21

Just Bought A House, Then Found This In A Wall In Our Master Bedroom Bathroom. Why, Just Why

Just Bought A House, Then Found This In A Wall In Our Master Bedroom Bathroom. Why, Just Why

EmuTricky4721 Report

Ideally, you should do it alone and really pay attention to how you feel. The expert on all things mystical suggests considering these questions: Do you feel peaceful, uneasy, or neutral? Do you get any messages in your mind? "Listen to your intuition, even if that means walking away from a place that checks all the boxes," the medium advises.

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#22

There’s A Mirror Screwed Into The Ceiling Above The Toilet In My Airbnb

There’s A Mirror Screwed Into The Ceiling Above The Toilet In My Airbnb

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#23

First Day In New Home

First Day In New Home

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#24

Room In My Girlfriend's Basement That She Has Never Been In

Room In My Girlfriend's Basement That She Has Never Been In

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Mark
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a storage room/pantry/medicine room that collapsed and was closed off

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"Another thing to look for if you think your space might be haunted is how long other people tended to live there. If you have a home with an owner who lived there for 40 years and passed away, that could tell you something, as could a pattern of people moving out after a short period of time," Sterling Moon adds.

#25

Stayed At A Friend's House Whose Mom Collects Dolls And Has A Room Just For Them

Stayed At A Friend's House Whose Mom Collects Dolls And Has A Room Just For Them

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#26

My Parent's House Was Destroyed In A Tornado A Year And A Half Ago. When They Moved Back In Last Week And Started Unpacking, They Found This In A Box

My Parent's House Was Destroyed In A Tornado A Year And A Half Ago. When They Moved Back In Last Week And Started Unpacking, They Found This In A Box

They have never seen it before and have no idea where it came from, but now it sits on a shelf in their living room. My parents are Texas transplants originally from Massachusetts and my mom is really into witches having grown up very close to Salem, famous for the Salem witch trials. My grandmother even claims that we had an ancestor accused of being a witch and burned at the Stake in Salem. My mom thinks the doll is funny and doesn't want to get rid of it. Every time their dog barks she jokes "he probably senses the evil in that doll".

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Karma Black
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Witches weren't burned in Salem. They were hung, and one was pressed to death. They also weren't actually witches.

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#27

So We're On Vacation, And This Is Our Bedroom Door

So We're On Vacation, And This Is Our Bedroom Door

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And what if the creepy things you found in your house have nothing to do with the paranormal? Home inspectors often find crazy things, too. One Nashville-based home inspector recounted to Reader’s Digest how he was going over a crawl space in a 70-year-old house.

He came across something straight out of Pet Sematary. It was a cat skeleton with its fur still intact. Turns out, the family thought the cat ran away years ago. At least now they knew the truth.

#28

Found These In My New House

Found These In My New House

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Jesse
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wisdom teeth most likely. I still have mine, they're in a jar in the bathroom closet

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#29

This Bedroom On Airbnb In A Place Called “Stabbin Cabin”. Sounds About Right

This Bedroom On Airbnb In A Place Called “Stabbin Cabin”. Sounds About Right

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#30

My Mom Is Replacing The Carpet In Her Basement And Found A Message From The Previous Home Owners

My Mom Is Replacing The Carpet In Her Basement And Found A Message From The Previous Home Owners

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Although dead animals may not be on the same disturbing level as ghosts, hardly anyone would like to find them in their new home. So let this list be a lesson to you, pandas – never forget to check your future home for creepy dolls and hoards of ants. And for now, let us know your similar story in the comments!

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#31

Staying At My Mum's House When I Saw This Demon Spawn

Staying At My Mum's House When I Saw This Demon Spawn

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#32

Toured My Dream Rental Apartment, But Spotted Something Super Uncomfortable When Reviewing My Footage

Toured My Dream Rental Apartment, But Spotted Something Super Uncomfortable When Reviewing My Footage

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#33

Found This Under The Carpet At My New Place. Any Idea What It Is?

Found This Under The Carpet At My New Place. Any Idea What It Is?

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RagDollLali
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently this particular configuration is used for "summoning angels, demons, or spirits" depending on what you're looking for 🤷

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#34

I Found This In The Closet Of Our New House

I Found This In The Closet Of Our New House

I am not a religious person but it still freaked me out.

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#35

I Moved Into A New Place And Found These Stapled To The Fence

I Moved Into A New Place And Found These Stapled To The Fence

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neytjie
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not creepy. Chicken feet are normally associated with protection in witch craft. Or you have a neighbor having a laugh at your expense by scaring you

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#36

Moved Into A New Place And The Only Item The Past Tenants Left Behind Was This Toy Train In The Closet

Moved Into A New Place And The Only Item The Past Tenants Left Behind Was This Toy Train In The Closet

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Svenne O'Lotta
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh no, a plastic train in a closet, whatever will we do? Religion has rotted your brains.

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#37

This Painting At The Airbnb Cabin I Was Staying At

This Painting At The Airbnb Cabin I Was Staying At

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#38

Creepy Fireplace In The Basement

Creepy Fireplace In The Basement

We just bought a home built in 1924 in an area known for its prohibition/rum running days (tunnels are not uncommon). In the basement, there’s a super spooky room with a solid concrete fireplace and no access to the original flue system (complete opposite sides of the house). It has knob and tube electrical from what looked like may have been sconces, and recessed lights above. There’s a crawlspace to the right with dirt/earth and miscellaneous. We haven’t done much more digging to see if anything’s hidden in the ceiling or not. Thoughts on what it is/was used for?

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#39

Noticed This Tucked Near The Edge Of The Fence In My New Place. I Think I'm Keeping It There

Noticed This Tucked Near The Edge Of The Fence In My New Place. I Think I'm Keeping It There

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#40

These Garden Gnomes In The Place I'm Staying At

These Garden Gnomes In The Place I'm Staying At

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#41

Moved Into A New Place And Found This In The Freezer. Does Anyone Know What It Is?

Moved Into A New Place And Found This In The Freezer. Does Anyone Know What It Is?

JChron326 Report

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Ka Se
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lower jar of a probably plant eating animal. It seems to have been quiet old considering the molars who seem to me very used up.

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#42

I Think I Found A Grave In My Backyard

I Think I Found A Grave In My Backyard

I moved into my house a few months ago and I'm suspicious that I found a gravestone in the yard. The house was built a little over 50 years ago, and in the back of the yard, I found this blank concrete slab. I would say it’s about 4x2 feet and is perfectly cut (not any kind of natural formation). It's also placed under a tree, which supports the idea that it's a grave. However, there's no writing or engravings. And if it's for an animal, I feel like the concrete slab is a little too big and excessive. On the other hand, I'm also thinking that maybe it's a marker for buried treasure. I'm genuinely intrigued as to what could be kept under there (mainly if it’s buried valuables). I won’t be quick to investigate, though. But I sure love a good mystery. What do you think is under there? 

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#43

These Scratches On The Inside Of The Door To My Basement. It’s An Old House Too

These Scratches On The Inside Of The Door To My Basement. It’s An Old House Too

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#45

This Child's Handprint I Found Underneath Wallpaper In My New House

This Child's Handprint I Found Underneath Wallpaper In My New House

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WindySwede
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have my handprints in the concrete my parents poured when I was just some years old. 🤷‍♂️

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