438 Oliver's Camp, Devizes. 



being probably to keep the bank at this steep angle from slipping 

 and consequently filling up the ditch. No relics were found in 

 the embankment. The section was continued down the scarp and 

 through the ditch. The ditch was 9ft. wide, and had become filled 

 up quite to the top, but did not show any signs of having been 

 purposely filled in, as did the eastern ditch. The great depth of 

 the silting in this ditch is probably due to the large extent of 

 steep chalk bank exposed immediately behind it, which must have 

 weathered very rapidly before the turf grew over it. The turf 

 and surface soil was unusually thick (18in.) ; under this for the 

 next ISiu. to 2ft. the silt was of a mixed earthy nature with 

 numerous snail shells, and below this it was entirely of chalk. 



Fig. 9. Section G. 



A. Undisturbed Chalk. 



E. Surface Soil. 



B. Chalk forming Rampart 

 D. Ancient Turf line. 



F. Mixed Silting. 



C. Chalky Silting. 



0. Position of large red pot. 



Relics in the Ditch. 



One small sherd of grey and one of thin red well-baked pottery, 

 the latter of unmistakeable Eoman character : 1ft. 



Two fragments of Samian ware : at depths respectively of 2ft. Gin. 

 and 2ft. 9in. 



