Pi!E-HisTor;K' Forts. 137 



Road, and neai" the ancient churchyard of Dunscore, where Lag' 

 lies buried with Robert Riddel of Glenriddel and Friars' Carse as 

 his nearest neighbour, a bye-road strikes over the hill to Dunscore 

 Village. At its highest elevation it passes Springfield Hill farm- 

 house, beliind which rises an eminence encircled by well-defined 

 lines of entrenchment. Although popularly attributed to the 

 Romans, this " camp," as it is called, possesses none of the 

 characteristic features of the Roman castra, and no remains have 

 Ijesn found to connect it with the occupation of Nithsdale by the 

 legions. The level summit of the hill, which is between six and 

 seven hundred feet above the sea, is defended on every side but 

 one by the natural configuration of the ground. On the north 

 and west there is a steep descent, which becomes almost perpen- 

 dicular on the south, while on the east the slope is more gradual. 

 Here, where nature is weakest, lines of artificial fortifications have 

 been constructed. A wide trench of considerable depth has been 

 cut, and within it a rampart has been formed, extending in 

 crescent shape fur a distance of 17.) feet, and encircling the whole 

 eastern side Immediately behind this rampart there is a second 

 trench, backed by a second rampart, and these are carried round 

 the northern and western sides. Sufficient defence was thereby 

 provided on these sides On the south, however, no artificial 

 fortification seems to have been considered necessary owing to the 

 steepness of the slope. The east was the most liable to attack, 

 and here still further efforts were expended. Within the second 

 rampart a platform about 30 feet in width appears, and behind 

 this outpost a third trench was dug, backed by a third rampart. 

 This rampart is so elevated, partly by the nature of the ground, 

 partly by artificial means, as to overlook and command all the 

 works in front. The trenches must have been quite dry, for a 

 supply of water sufficient to convert them into ditches or moats is 

 not within reach. This fort is a good example of a position 

 naturally strong made practically impregnable by the construction 

 of fosse and rampart. 



Twelve or fifteen years ago, trench, platform, .'ind rampart 

 were all apparent to the most superficial observer. A wood 

 which formerly crowned the height had been recently cut down, 

 and everything was clearly exposed to view. Even those passing 

 along the road, 300 yards away, could mark the outline of the 

 works against the sky. But the place has been re-planted, and the 



