46 Excavations at Birrenswark. 



skilled workmen were employed, and it is also more disturbed at 

 some places than others. Where in best form and most perfect, 

 the stones, Avhich are flattish and unshaped, do not lie level on 

 the bed, but slope, so that the lower edge of one overlaps the 

 upper edge of another somewhat after the manner of slates on a 

 roof. 



At the rear of the rampart, where the ground was opened, a 

 pavement, about 5 feet wide, was usually found, but at one point 

 kerbing takes its place. Generally the pavement is of heavy 

 material and good workmanship, but, as in the case of the pitch- 

 ing, the quality varies. 



Allowing for diversities of the kind alluded to, these ramparts 

 exhibit, so far as opened, uniformity of structural detail. The 

 turf was removed at one or more places on each of the several 

 sides of the camp, and in every case stone pitching -was disclosed. 

 The sections cut in the rampart at the north side, and a partial 

 cutting at the south, showed lamination similar in each case, but 

 it was not observed at the west side. 



In addition to the stone-work before described, a piece of an 

 exceptional kind occurs. Four feet below the crest of the ram- 

 part, at the north side of the camp, there is a single stonej 

 measuring 4^ feet by 2h feet and 5 inclies thick, as from the 

 quarry, lying flat (Plate V. fig. 1). It is pierced with six holes 

 under an inch in diameter, and running in a long slanting 

 direction, in which were pieces of charcoal. The holes are 

 apparently natural. 



The fortifications of the redoubt at the north-east corner of 

 the camp are of a diff'erent type, and consist of a ditch and 

 double rampart (figs. 2, 3, 4), half the earth got from the ditch 

 having been cast inwards and the other half outwards. There is 

 a structural difference also, in so far as the stone pitching is 

 absent. On the other hand, remains of lamination and brush- 

 wood, as previously described, are disclosed in both the front 

 and rear ramparts. 



Under the inner rampart of the redoubt, at the north (Plate 

 V. fig. 4), is a layer of stones corresponding with those discovered 

 in similar positions at Birrens and Ardoch. It measures 8 feet 

 in breadth in the direction of crossing the rampart, but how far 

 it extends lengthwise was not ascertained. It is of excellent 

 workmanship, and remains in perfect order. The stones are well 

 fitted, and bedded and cemented together with worked clay. 



