42 Excavations at Birrexswark. 



embrace two-thirds of the circuit of the hill. Over the remain- 

 ing one-third there is no trace of entrenchment, and such would 

 hardly be required. The hill there is skirted by land still 

 marshy, although elaborately drained, which would, there is little 

 doubt, be impassable formerly, and the ascent which starts out of 

 it is steep and difficult to climb. In this way the marsh and 

 artificial works together would entirely circumvallate the hill. 



In the middle of these works rises the elliptical truncated cone 

 of the hill, the top of which is a large fort, shaped after the out- 

 line of the plateau. The west end of the fort is cut off by a 

 transverse rampart so as to form a pear-shaped enclosure, M, 

 within which, towards the west, is a small fortlet, N. 



It is a circumstance to be noted that the three larger works 

 are each environed with fortifications provided with gateways on 

 the .several sides, and are independently complete and defensible. 



With the view of throwing light on vestiges so extensive and 

 apparently important, the Council of the Society of Antiquaries 

 resolved to institute exploratory excavations, and accordingly 

 operations were begun on 20th June last. Three workmen were 

 employed, and sometimes four, under the superintendence of Mr 

 Alexander Mackie, as Clerk of Works ; and after three months' 

 labour the investigation had been carried through and was 

 brought to a close. 



Obviously, in this case, the excavations must bear an exceed- 

 ingly small proportion compared with the extent of the surfaces 

 presented for examination. The south camp covers over 13 

 acres ; the area of the north camp is nearly 8 acres ; the hilltop 

 fort measures 17 acres; and the total area within the circumvalla- 

 tion would extend to not less than 100 acres. The ground 

 actually turned over in the course of carrying out the exploratory 

 opei'ations, on the other hand, little exceeds an acre in extent. 

 One inference to be drawn is, that the seemingly rather sparse 

 collection of relics recovered must be multiplied many times to 

 represent the volume of objects probably scattered over the 

 unopened ground. 



The excavations were directed chiefly to testing the accuracy 

 of General Roy's plan and of the Ordnance map ; ascertaining 

 the character and structure of the ditches, ramiJarts, and gate- 

 ways ; and examining the interior areas for vestiges of work, and 

 for evidences of occupation. The relation the several works bear 

 one to another was also kept in view. 



