30 THE HILL-FORTRESS CALLED EGGARDUN. 



main approach pierces the outer wall at its south-east corner, 

 on the edge of the steep southern slope. 



It seems to have been an element in the scheme of defence 

 that the approach should pierce the second, or inner, wall, 

 not at its corner, but about 250 feet farther to the north ; 

 and that the road between the two entrances should pursue a 

 straight course. A straight course between these points is 

 oblique to the lines of entrenchment, and involves a separation 

 of the two eastern ditches by an interval of 100 feet. But they 

 are tied together at right angles by a third ditch and wall 

 immediately to the north of the oblique approach which is thus 

 better secured. 



This ancient road, coming from the south is, at a distance of 

 three furlongs from the camp, intersected by the Roman road on 

 its way from Dorchester to Bridport, so that the two have an 

 actual connection by which Hutchins was misled into the belief 

 that the fortress, was Roman. Nevertheless, it appears that the 

 Roman road passes as closely to Eggardun as good engineering 

 permitted. 



The still more ancient road that Warne speaks of as running 

 along the north slope of the hill, is considerably below the two 

 lines of entrenchment on that side. It takes its course on what 

 was originally a natural terrace, which became greatly worn by 

 long-continued traffic, so as to simulate a third ditch of defence. 

 It is crossed by traverses continued northwards from the outer 

 wall at each end of the fortress, showing that the road is the 

 older work. It was the only track when Hutchins wrote ; but a 

 modern one has been made at the extreme edge of the terrace. 

 This ridge, at its easterly end, has been exaggerated by ploughing 

 and by cutting-out to make a hedge-bank. Hollow-ways, worn 

 by use through many centuries, may often be seen near hill- 

 fortresses. At Cerne such a track, which leads from the valley to 

 the summit of the hill, is furrowed in places to a depth of 

 5i feet. 



The north-west angle of the camp is pierced by a less 

 important approach which, following the same elemental rule, 



