219 



although mixed in parts with large fragments of angular pieces of Laurentian 

 rock, &c., was for the most part fine, such as would bo found in a garden. Pieces 

 of Upper Llandovery sandstone and quartzoze grit were the only remains we met 

 with that did not belong to the hill, proving to us that it was made-earth we were 

 digging into. 



We next made a trench east and west through the centre ; this we cut to a 

 depth of four feet, with no more interesting result. 



At this juncture thirty or forty members of the Malvern Field Club arrived, 

 who had been invited to inspect the opening of this supposed barrow, by their 

 excellent president, Mr. Piper. Little more was done in the barrow that day, as 

 there were sundry hut hollows, and a circle, that members of the Club requested 

 we should open. These were opened, but with no satisfactory result.* 



The next day operations were re-commenced with a view of solving the 

 problem of the barrow ; a trench 2 feet wide and 4 feet deep was cut from the 

 north-we.«t corner diagonally across, and another one east and west, in which 

 latter, at 10 feet from the west side, and at a depth of 3 feet, the earth became 

 much blacker as it was thrown up ; upon examining it we found it contained 

 fragments of charcoal, cinders, two small pieces of burnt brick, one having the im- 

 pression of a dog's foot, and a thin copper or bronze ring ; this blackness was but a 

 mere patch, as below, the substance of the mound bore the same appearance as 

 what we had thrown out before. Having cut these five trenches, more than equal 

 to twice the length of the whole mound, and finding the result so unsatisfactory, 

 it was soon abandoned. 



Some days after, on the 17th, having a few hours to spare, and observing a 

 similar mound on the slope of a hill south-east of the Herefordshire Beacon Camp, 

 a little to the north of the Divination Stone, and due west of Clutter's Cave, 

 I resolved to open it, as it might perhaps throw light on the former one. 



The mound measured 89 feet long by 17 feet broad, and 2^ feet to 3 feet in 

 height. It had a north-easterly direction. A trench was cut, 2| feet wide and 4J 

 feet deep, from west to east, and from north to south a trench of similar dimen- 

 sions was dug, extending for 38 feet. All the earth thrown up was of the same 

 quality, being fine and suited to a garden. Whilst occupied at this mound, 

 General Pitt Rivers arrived, whose opinion I at once solicited ; he informed me 

 that it would be only waste of time to continue the diggini,', as he, in company 

 with Canon Greenwell and Professor RoUeston, had opened precisely similar 

 mounds in Oxfordshire, Surrey, and elsewhere, with like results. But whilst at 

 Dartmoor, some years back, he observed some of these raised mounds, and upon 

 making enquiries, ascertained that they were thrown up as artificial rabbit 

 burrows, and had been in use for many years for the purpose with gn^eat success. 

 They are even made there at the present day. General Pitt Rivers having fully 



* On the eastern face of Midsummer Hill, five of the so-called hut hollows were subsequently 

 opened within the camp. In one, at one foot from the surface, a piece of brick, fragments of 

 charcoal, and a quartz pebble were met with. 



