44 Excavations at Birrensvvakk. 



most gateways, is also straight, but beyond these points it 

 deflects southwards, slightly to the west, and markedly towards 

 the east. The west defence is pushed forward at the centre, 

 forming a knee, from which on either sids it runs in a straight 

 line to join the north-west and south-west corners of the camp 

 respectively ; and the deflection is just sufficient to admit the 

 small circular work, H, within the camp without impinging on 

 the rectangle of the area, as it might be defined" by a straight 

 line drawn from the extremities at the rear of the rampart. 

 That this is not accidental is further evidenced by the way in 

 which the circular work fits in with the side of the street and 

 with the rampart, which shows a perceptible shoulder concentric 

 with its circumference. All the corners of the camp are 

 rounded. 



The dimensions over all, including the redoubt, are : — On the 

 south, 900 feet ; on the north, 850 feet ; on the east, 600 feet ; 

 and. on the west, 700 feet; average length, taking into account 

 the forward bend at the west, 900 feet ; and width, 670 feet. 

 The interior length extends approximately to 840 feet, and the 

 width to 580 feet. 



Three entrances give access to the camji from the north, the 

 centre one being about 50 feet wide, the others 35 feet. Each 

 is guarded by a quasi-circular mound or tower, about 60 feet in 

 diameter at the base. These mounds are known locally as " The 

 Three Brethren." The interspaces, it should Ije noticed, are 

 equal, evidencing that the work was not set out without line and 

 measure. Central gateways occur also at the south, the east, and 

 the Avest, each guarded liy a traverse, but of oval form. 



The redoubt, G (see fig. 8), is rectangular, with rounded 

 corners ; and an unprotected gateway at the south gives entrance 

 to it from within the camp. The interior dimensions are : — from 

 north to south about iOO feet, and 70 feet from east to west. 

 The work shows a want of aligment with the camp, which, 

 together with other indications of severance, suggests a possible 

 difference of epoch in relation to the main work. 



Within the redoubt again is a small square enclosure, lying 

 diagonally in the centime. It measures about 30 feet each way, 

 and the likelihood seems to be that it was superimposed on the 

 original work at a subsequent period. Unlike the redoubt itself 

 and the camp, it is disposed with true orientation. 



The small circular work, H, at the west end of the camp 



