MovieChat Forums > The Village (2004) Discussion > What exactly was the deep hole?

What exactly was the deep hole?

posted 8 years ago by skat1140
4 replies | jump to latest

A slight ledge was over it which Ivy stepped on and it gave way.

It was 10-15 feet deep, almost completely circular, with straight edges. It would take a lot of effort and ingenuity to have been dug manually.

What was it? A trap? A sinkhole?

I think the conceit is that this is "naturally occurring", but I cannot see how such a thing could exist in nature.

If it were caused by water erosion, the hole would not be nearly so circular, and there would be evidence of an entrance and an exit for the water.

[–] chas437 8 years ago

Its where a large tree died or was blown over, you'll notice a large downed tree was right next to it.

The root structure of the dead tree leaves behind a big depression in the ground. If you've spent time in a forest, you will see these pits on occasion.

[–] johnston.scot 8 years ago

Exactly.

They even have a name: a "tree throw" or a "three throw pit."

[–] skat1140 8 years ago

> Its where a large tree died or was blown over, you'll notice a large downed tree was right next to it.

OK, I get that that is what they were going for, EXCEPT:

in that case, it had to be a HUGE tree that overturned. And in that case, there a divot of soil attaching to the root system of the overturned tree exactly corresponding to the negative space evacuated by the hole. Now, I guess one can claim that months of rain and erosion could bite away at the soil on the overturned tree, leaving exposed roots only-- BUT, in that case, there would be corresponding erosion on the hole also.

But really that explanation is still very inadequate. The hole was virtually cylindrical. A circular hole will virtually vertical walls. As opposed to what is the result of an overturned tree: a bowl-shaped soil divot and a bowl-shaped depression (ie, NOT sheer walls). You cannot have vertical walls. It just doesn't happen when a tree overturns.

[–] chas437 8 years ago

Are you a tree biologist?

Seriously though, the root structure of a decadent old tree is massive, so when it rots away, or keels over while attached to the fallen tree, there is a large void left in the ground. The void or pit is in fact cylindrical and can be quite deep.

There isn't necessarily corresponding erosion to the pit, especially if the tree was downed fairly recently, say 6 months or less. But, yes, eventually, erosion will fill in the void.

These pits are a hazard to people.

As opposed to what is the result of an overturned tree: a bowl-shaped soil divot and a bowl-shaped depression (ie, NOT sheer walls). You cannot have vertical walls. It just doesn't happen when a tree overturns.

Where are you getting this information? It is not accurate, the root structure, along with the mass of soil it displaces can be wide, AND very deep. The walls ca be vertical, I've seen this with my own two eyes.