252 Recent Explorations at Silbury Hill. 
In addition to the objects already referred to, a brass ccin of 
Marcus Aurelius was found, 6ft. under the surface, in shaft No. 2, 
and in another shaft an iron arrow-point was found; these things, 
however, bear but little on the date of the mound. 
The idea entertained by some antiquarians, that the shape of the 
summit and slope of the hill were altered owing to the large 
quantity of material excavated from the shaft in 1777 is not borne 
out by the fact. This shaft was 4ft. in diameter, and the whole of 
the chalk debris removed could not have exceeded forty cubic yards, 
and this would occupy but a small space in the centre of the summit 
of the hill—over 100ft. diameter, so that none of it would have 
rolled down the hill sides. In fact all this material appears to have 
been refilled into the hole, excepting a small bank which is still 
visible on the flat summit. 
As the outcome of these excavations I have ascertained that 
Silbury Hill was originally surrounded by a deep trench, or moat, 
at all times containing water. 
Also, that it was erected by a people, probably a rude race of 
hunters, so little advanced in civilization, that they were using flint 
implements a long time after the hill was built; this discovery 
places the date of the erection of Silbury Hill atia very early period, 
probably some centuries before the arrival of the Romans in 
Britain. 
It does not follow that the builders of Silbury Hill were actually 
the same race as the flint-workers, whose traces were found in the 
trench. A long interval of time must have necessarily elapsed to 
account for the deposit of 5ft. of alluvium ; so these men may have 
supplanted some previous race of dwellers; but, if this be so, it 
carries back the date of the erection of Silbury Hill to a still more 
remote period. 
Note.—All the objects of interest found in these excavations have 
been sent to their proper resting-place, the Devizes Museum. 
APPENDIX. 
Details of the ten shafts. The numbers refer to the numbers on 
the annexed plan, and the depth of water stated is the height to 
