114 A Report of Diggings made in Silbiiry Hill, 



Mr. Fergusson that the members of the Wilts Archaeological 

 Society would perceive that a distinct issue had been raised, which 

 might be wholly, or at least in part settled by diggings and a care- 

 ful survey ; Mr. Fergusson having at the same time the most 

 perfect confidence as to what the result of these explorations would 

 be. [Mr. Fergusson's letter to the Athenaeum, 22 Jan., 1866.] 



The Council of the Society have willingly joined issue with Mr. 

 Fergusson on the point which he raised, on the qticestio fadi, 

 whether there are any traces of the Roman Road under Silbury 

 Hill, and have taken the subject up in the practical manner he 

 suggested, by diggings in the hill itself. 



It is the object of this report to lay the evidence before our readers, 

 as the Jury, with such remarks as may be necessary, and then to leave 

 them to consider their verdict. If the road were found under the 

 hill, that direct evidence would be decisive as to the Post Roman 

 date to be assigned to the hill. If on the other hand, the road 

 were not found there, and yet more if it were found elsewhere, at 

 least the direct evidence would be negatived, and the whole of the 

 plaintiff"'8 case would be materially weakened from the failure of 

 that witness on whom he with such " perfect confidence " relied. 

 He might afterwards indeed bring forward other evidence of a cir- 

 cumstantial and inferential character, on which the Counsel for the 

 defence might comment, and the Jury might have to express their 

 opinion. 



On Tuesday, Oct. 22nd, 1867, Mr. Fergusson met the Secretaries 

 of the Wiltshire Archaeological Society, at Silbury Hill, and they 

 agreed to commence their explorations at the foot of the hill, on 

 the eastern side. Two openings were made at the supposed level 

 of the original soil, one a little to the north, and the other a little 

 to the south of the spot, where it was expected that the road might 

 be found. The intention was to dig down till the old turf was 

 found, then following that, to connect the two openings, and see if 

 any traces of the road lay between them. Just below the existing 

 turf in the more northerly of these openings, many blocks of chalk 

 were found about one foot in diameter. Here also in a space of 

 about four square feet, and about two feet below the surface, lay 



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