Excavations at Birrknswark. 57 



evidently joined the south and north camps (Plate VIII. fig. 15). 

 The roadway, which is 10 feet wide and surfaced with flat stones 

 laid as j^avement, is cut out of the slope of the hillside, and 

 between it and the rampart is a ditch, the only one in connection 

 Avith the work ; a sandstone ball was recovered from the ditch. 



An ancient road passes a few yards south of the west fort, 

 running west and north-west, as indicated on the Ordnance Map. 

 It is known as the "Roman Road." Its surface was exposed at 

 six different places, disclosing stone pavement composed of flat 

 laid quarried stones, but the work was more or less disturbed. 

 At one point the trimmed edging remained, of which, however, 

 the stones were not materially larger than those in the body of 

 the work, The best preserved part showed a roadway about 10 

 feet wide, with a hollowed continuation or water channel along 

 the side next the hill, 2 feet wide. The work is fairly similar to 

 tlie pavements within the camps and with the piece of roadway 

 at the east end of the hill before described. 



Another piece of road, Q, R, also paved and apparently branch- 

 ing from the last, runs in an easterly direction along the north 

 side of the west fort, and touching the end of its narrow entrance. 

 Marks, not very clear for some Avay, but distinct further on, can 

 be traced of its continuation to the south-west shoulder of the 

 hill, where it passes by a clearly-mai'ked track round to the main 

 gateway on the south side of the hill fort. 



Two conclusions may be suggested as following on the circum- 

 stances described. Ihe shape of the west fort may be consequent 

 on its position in the angle between the tAvo roads ; and its pur- 

 pose probably Avas to serve as a guard-room for the entrance to the 

 fortress, Avhich here apparently branched ofl' the " Roman Road." 



Hill Fort. 



The hill fort (Plate III.) occupies the Avhole plateau, measuring 

 from east to west about 1760 feet, and from north to south 700 

 feet at the Avest part ; Avhile the east part, OAving to an abrupt 

 contraction near the middle, is reduced to about 400 feet in 

 breadth. At the point Avhere the contraction is, a depression of 

 the surface crosses the plateau, and another slight holloAv occurs 

 near the middle of the east part. The outline is sinuous ; in 

 particular, a recess marks the north side at the point Avhere the 

 conti'action of the Avidth occurs. One not so deep lies opposite 



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