sam, pretty much what you see is alive, except for the top couple of inches of each trunk which I left long for now, but will eventually be carved down. The original bush/tree was about 15 plus feet and got hit by the last two winters which had reduced it down to what you see now. My folks wanted to replace it with something else so I took it, and figured I would make more of a sumo style tree. When I started digging much to my pain, sweat, as well as excitement I found and enormous root ball... That if it was darker would perhaps look like I rock.
I unfortunately was unable to get any pics of it that day, because after a whole day event, since it was just me, I just wanted to get it replanted before dark !!! So the photo was taken the next day.
The massive rootball was alive with no rot, but had very few fine roots, Just large roots shooting off in various directions that were cut when it was dug. Most of the fine roots were around the top, that is why I decided to go ahead an plant it almost up to where it originally was, so the fine roots might help substain the tree until it had a chance to shoot out more roots lower down.
I was worried that because of the cold damage that the tree's health might be in jeopardy, but two days after I took the picture it sproted new buds all over, and currently seems to be in better condition than when I found it...
The main reason why I planted it in the clear tub, is so I might see some of the progress of the roots lower down. I figure over some time I would remove the gravel little by little and remove some of the higher roots as I went...