70 



ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



"^^-^M 





Flo. 16, VIEW OF " OliSERV ATORY" FROM THE INTERIOR. 



From the octagon lead off three hnes of parallel walls : those extending towards 

 the south have been traced for nearly two miles, and finally lose themselves in 

 the plain ; the remaining parallels terminate as shown in the plan. They are 

 upAvards of a mile in length. The walls composing these singular lines are placed 

 about two hundred feet apart, and are parallel throughout. A singular feature 

 occurs in the northern one, which is exhibited by the transverse section g h. For 

 the space of a quarter of a mile, advantage is taken of a slight natural ridge to 

 construct between the walls a broad embankment, something higher than the 

 parallels themselves. It is broad enough to permit fifty persons to walk abreast. 

 A similar peculiarity is observed in the short parallel leading from the square 

 enclosure towards the great circle E, and is exhibited by the section i I. A 

 feature somewhat analogous occurs within the parallels extending from the 

 irregular works on the extreme right of the plan. This parallel is carried down 

 the bank of the third terrace, which is here fifteen or twenty feet high. Within 

 the lines, the bank is cut down, and regularly graded to an easy ascent. The pathway 

 or road, for a portion of its extent upon the alluvions, is elevated above the Avails, as 

 shown in longitudinal section m ??. A similar grade is constructed at the extremity 

 of the northern parallel, where the natural bank is much higher than at any other 

 point. Here the bank is excavated inwardly, for upwards of one hundred and fifty 

 feet ; and a portion of the earth is appropriated to form an elevated way over the 

 low swampy ground immediately at the foot of the terrace. These excavations 

 constitute quite imposing features, when viewed on the spot, but are hardly 

 distinguishable upon the plan. 



A number of small circles are found connected with the works, and are chiefly 

 embraced in the area between the two principal parallels. They are about eighty 

 feet in diameter, without gateways opening into them ; and it has been suggested 

 that they probably mark the sites of ancient circular dwellings. The circles 

 indicated by the letter G are of much larger dimensions, and are characterized by 

 ditches interior to their walls. They each have a diameter of about two hundred 



