ON ANCIENT CAMPS AND EARTH-WORKS. 101 
it exists now and as it may have existed in times long gone 
by. With this feeling I purpose to ask your indulgence 
while I seek to trace out before you the vestiges of 
Ancient Earth-works which still exist on the hills around 
Bath and in its neighbourhood. They are many and very 
interesting, and have escaped hitherto the hand of man. 
Much, however, that concerns their history must rest upon 
conjecture. The light by which we read their former pur- 
poses is somewhat obscure, and I know, therefore, that I 
shall receive at the hands of this assembly that kind indul- 
gence which should always be afforded to a work of this 
kind. 
And first, I ought to touch upon that very interesting 
landmark of an ancient people now passed away—the 
WANSDYKE—traces of which are here and there still visible 
in Somersetshire.* The general consent of antiquaries has 
fixed upon the Wansdyke as the last of the Belgie boun- 
daries. It seems probable, from the examination of ancient 
earth-works in Hampshire and South Wilts, that the 
Belg®e made three distinet conquests, each of which is 
marked by a new boundary-line, the last of which is the 
Wansdyke. This subject has been very ably discussed by 
that learned and intelligent antiquary, Dr. Guest, the 
present Master of Caius College, who in a paper published 
in the Archeological Journal, aceompanied with a map 
carefully noting the remains of ancient boundary-lines, has 
shewn that,very satisfactory reasons may be given for this 
opinion. “ This magnificent earth-work,” says he, “ reached 
from the woodlands of Berkshire to the British Channel. 
Its remains have been carefully surveyed by Sir R. C. 
* The etymology of this word is derived from the C. British, gwahann, 
separare—and denotes a line of separation or demarcation; and not, as 
sometimes has been stated, from “ Woden’s Dyke.” 
