58 Excavations at Birrenswark. 



on the south side, and there are two others on the same side 

 further east, the interspaces being about equah The sides of the 

 hill are everywhere steep near the top, and at several places the 

 face is perpendicular. A stretch of precipitous rock margin, 

 known as '• The Fairy Craig," occurs at the east end of the hill, 

 another at the north side near the point of contraction of width, 

 and at the west end also there is a good deal of rock falling 

 abruptly from the crest. The ascent to the plateau is easiest on 

 the south side. 



The Defences. — The plateau is entirely encircled with an 

 artificial rampart, which follows the sinuosities of the crest ; and 

 on the south side, where the ascent is not so steej), there is a 

 second line, in front of the first, which also follows the windings 

 of the ground, maintaining, except at the gateway returns, an 

 approximately uniform difference of level, but not an equal 

 distance from the first. 



In addition to the encircling ramparts, a mound (0, Plate III.) 

 is built over the crest of the natural bank on the west side of the 

 surface depression before mentioned, dividing off the broader 

 part of the camp at the west end into a separate fort, within 

 which, at the west side, is a small heart-shaped fortlet, N ; and 

 at the eastmost recess of the south side, where the slight hollow 

 is, an artificial work, P, crosses the hill in nearly a straight line. 



Four gateways afford entrance to the plateau, situated, 

 respectively, one at the west end, one in the recess on the north 

 side, one in the middle recess, and another in the west recess on 

 the south side. The east recess on the south side, although now 

 crossed by the rainpart, had probably been a gateway also. 



The encircling and outward ramparts do not in this case stand 

 up materially above the surface in the rear (Plate VII. figs. 16, 

 17), and to the ordinary observer are not very apparent ; but the 

 slight elevation, greener tint, and protruding stones sufiiciently 

 mark the position. The encircling rampart may be described as 

 a trimming of the crest of the hill, the artificial work being 

 generally 30 feet wide at the base and 4 feet high in the centre, 

 and the scarp dies into the slope of the hillside. There is no 

 ditch, which is the main differentiating feature of the hilltop 

 defences. Possibly this circumstance is consequent on the 

 builders' methods, but more probably it was compelled by the 

 nature of the site, Avith its steep scarp and rock structure. The 

 most outstanding characteristic these ramparts present is the 



