Excavations at Bikkenswark. 49 



and there are stone remains adjacent to where the rivulet passes 

 througli the ramjmrt. But the most important vestiges of this 

 description were discovered in the centre of tlie camji, and 

 consist of walUng, pavement, and debris, evidently of large and 

 important buildings, &c. (S). The traces were followed ISO feet 

 in length from north to south, but both ends were broken off, 

 and no idea of what the full length or the width might be could 

 be obtained. A part of the front wall, which is sufficiently well 

 defined, measures 2i feet in thickness, and 30 feet backwards is 

 another marking of a wall of similar thickness. The remains lie 

 on the east side of the main cross street, and 30 feet back from 

 its centre ; they block the main longitudinal street, and while 

 not parallel with tiie former, the front lies at right angles with 

 the latter. The position is very similar to that of the Prsetorium 

 at Birrens. 



At the centre of the main cross street, and oppoisite the south 

 end of the remains just described, there is a small fragment of 

 stone-work (T) disposed as a segment of a circle, and measuring 

 about 12 inches in thickness. It is mentioned in relation to 

 another fragment of similar form in the redoubt to be presently 

 noticed. 



The interior of the redoubt (fig. 8) showed patches of pave- 

 ment and a good deal of stone del)ris, as if the whole area had 

 been so floored ; possibly other purposes also may have been 

 served. Two drains disclosed should be noticed as resembling in 

 construction one found within the hill-fort. One starts at the 

 north of the area and runs eastward a short way, and then south- 

 wards at the rear of the east rampart ; and the other, starting at 

 the same point, with a space of 18 inches of uncut earth between 

 them, runs north-west, and falls into the ditch between the 

 ramparts. The depth is about 4 feet, and the trench is filled 

 with angular quarried stones of good size tumbled in. Towards 

 the west of the area there is a group of four post-holes and the 

 piece of stone-work of segmental form before alluded to, and at 

 the north-east corner is another group of three post-holes. The 

 holes are not sufficiently numerous to define the form of en- 

 closure the posts may have served to support ; but so far as they 

 lend themselves in that direction, a circular plan 17 feet in 

 diameter would best fit in with their disposition. The circum- 

 ference of such a circle applied to the first group would describe 

 the outer curve of the segment of stone-work, pass through three 



7 



