While pulling weeds today my foot fell into a hole. I jumped back and poked around it finding it "hollow" underneath. I got the shovel and started digging, and found a void about 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep. There is no evidence of animal life in it, nor is there any debris.
- How worried should I be? It is near the pillar supporting the post, about 3 feet away, and about 10 feet from the foundation.
- Should I leave it open and "watch" it or should I panic and call an engineer or geologist or something?
The house is over 100 years old. There is no apparent drain pipe in that area, although I'm told the previous owner put some kind of exterior French drain around the house at some point. This is Baltimore, theoretically clay soil, although the soil in the hole is soft and sandy. It has been VERY rainy for the last 2 years.
EGADS! PANIC! HELP!