cm6 



By H. J. MOULE, M.A 



(Bead Sept. Wth, 1900.) 



'T should be said first and foremost that this paper is 

 founded largely on the chapter on Chalbury 

 Rings in Warne's "Ancient Dorset," p. 46, 

 and on his description in " Celtic Tumuli," 

 p. 58, of work at Rimbury. 



Chalbury Rings is an earthwork very note- 

 worthy for its position its high, view-com- 

 manding position. It is 3yoft. above the sea. 

 Its construction is less remarkable. The 

 work is, as is understood, of that sort which 

 Mr. Cunnington holds to date from early times in the pre- 

 Roman epoch. This is the kind of construction in which no 

 soil is thrown upwards. At Maiden Castle and Poundbury 

 the crests of the valla are made of soil piled up. There 

 is no sign of anything of the kind at Chalbury. There they 

 tried to bother the foeman's storming party by simply paring 

 away the natural slopes round the precinct so as to make 

 them steeper. Seemingly the soil so removed was thrown 

 over the lower slopes, but this is not clear. A remarkable 



