32 THE EXCAVATIONS 



If we are discussing whetlier one arcli was built up, and 

 pierced by a small door, the only possible evidence of a 

 construction of tbat kind left now must be derived from 

 tbe voussoirs. Apparently Mr. Garstang rested bis tbeory 

 upon tbese. He found one voussoir, wbicb gave a span of 

 eigbt feet, and be assigned tbis to tbe larger arcb.^^ 

 Tbree otbers gave spans respectively of 2 ft. 6 in., 

 2 ft. 3 in., and 2 ft. 1 in., and tbese be conjectured migbt 

 belong to a door and a smaller arcb, tbougb tbis arcb and 

 tbe central pier bad somebow to fill a span of over 13 feet. 

 Now we bave turned out a number of voussoirs at tbe 

 nortbern gate, and tbeir evidence is equally conflicting. 

 Tbey vary greatly in size, and in quality of workmansbip. 

 By far tbe best, wbicb is a well worked piece of gritstone, 

 and wbicb I bave measured several times, gives a span of 

 just under 14 incbes. A keystone, not so well worked, 

 gives tbe same span. A mucb larger voussoir, rougbly 

 worked, gives a span of 21 incbes. Tbere are otbers, but 

 so far I bave not found one belonging to tbe 8 foot span. 

 Very likely one may be tbere, but tbe voussoirs would 

 probably be carried off. Voussoirs bave also been found at 

 tbe soutbern gate, wbicb it would be impossible to connect 

 witb tbe span at tbat entrance. A rougb measurement 

 sbows tbat one of tbese also gives a span of 21 incbes. 

 Another indicates a narrower opening. It is perfectly 

 evident tbat tbese voussoirs do not belong to tbe main arcbes 

 at all. Tbey point to tbe existence of windows or similar 

 openings. Moreover, as we find bases of columns in tbe 

 road near tbe nortb gate,- wbicb may bave come from tbe 

 central building, it is possible some of tbe voussoirs came 

 from tbat building also. Perbaps a careful examination 

 of all tbe voussoirs by an expert migbt lead to some 

 conclusion. But there seems little reason to doubt tbat 

 tbe two main spans of tbe original structure were equal, 



