Excavations at Birrexswark. 47 



There is also a layer of very thin stones at the base of the outer 

 rampart, which is not indicated on the drawings. 



The counterscarp of the ditch between the ramparts at the 

 same point shows a kerbing at the lip of stones two courses high, 

 and lower down there are three courses, the faces of which are 

 splayed to suit the slope. The stones are bedded and jointed 

 with clay. 



The most important piece of masonry, however, in this con- 

 nection consists of two parallel wails crossing the centre of the 

 north rampart of the redoubt (Plato VI. fig. 5). The walls 

 flank a passage, 4 feet 8 inches wide, which is floored with a 

 hard substance, like concrete. Each wall is 3 feet in thickness, 

 and the remains rise at the highest point to 3 feet and extend 

 24 feet in length. The length northwards is complete, but at 

 the south, where there is a collection of stone debris, the ends 

 are broken off and imperfect. The walls are fairly built, and 

 towards the passage the faces are finished with greater care. 

 The position this structure occupies in the rampart and its 

 passage-like form seem to mark it as a gateway originally, closed 

 by subsequent alterations. 



In regard to the dimensions of the fortifications described, 

 those of the camp are larger at the north than elsevrhere, partly 

 resulting from the rearward fall of the site, but doubtless also of 

 design, in order to equalise and adapt the defences in view of the 

 opposing higher ground. The width on that side varies from 42 

 to 58 feet over all, but on the other sides, where the rampart is 

 reared on a natural bank or on rising ground, it is contracted to 

 from 30 to 35 feet. The double rampart of the redoubt and the 

 intervening ditch together measure 48 feet across. 



The ditch of the redoubt is much silted up, but the ramparts 

 do not seem to be materially disturbed. The camp ditch is 

 correspondingly silted, but the rampart, although disturbed more 

 or less, continues for the most part in comparatively good form, 

 and at the section (Plate V. fig. 1) it is apparently perfect, or 

 nearly so, as the stone pitching of the face remains in order up 

 to the crown. 



The 6'ffl<ma2/s.— The east gateway of the camp was first ex- 

 amined, and the work consisted in excavating the traverse ditch 

 and clearing away the earth from the rearward area. As dis- 

 closed, the entrance measures about 40 feet in width, and the 

 roadway passing into the interior without depression at tJie 



