EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 221 



Post-hole xxiii. occupied a similar position in an oval hole 

 " K," situated close against the angle of the wall. This hole 

 was 3* i ft. deep below the chalk floor, its upper margin measuring 

 4* 5ft. by 4ft. Between these two large holes was a smaller one, 

 "A," of a flattened oval outline. It had almost vertical sides, 

 clean cut and smooth; depth ift. below the floor. A similar 

 hole, " B," was uncovered several feet to the S. 



At about 2' 5ft. to the S. of the trench, at the foot of the arena 

 wall and running parallel to it, an inner trench cut in the solid 

 chalk, about 2ft. wide at the top, was clearly traced extending 

 from the W.S.W. margin of the cutting to a large circular pit 

 (Hole "C") with smooth sloping sides, which averaged 3'9ft. in 

 diameter at the top, and was 3*1 ft. deep below the chalk floor. 

 A wooden post had been placed in it excentrically and rammed 

 round with loose chalk for support. In this post-hole (Xo. xxxiii.) 

 one or two bits of iron were found. A pit corresponding to 

 Hole "C " was found in 1908 in the eastern part of the entrance, 

 containing post-hole ix., also excentric. This pair of circular 

 pits was found to be connected by a shallow gutter, averaging 

 o'5ft. wide. They were different in character from any of the 

 other holes uncovered ; hence it has been thought possible that 

 they are of earlier date than the other holes now associated with 

 them, and that at the time of the construction of the Roman 

 amphitheatre they were utilised for the purpose of erecting 

 posts. 



\\'e must now revert to the inner trench divided from the outer 

 trench at the foot of the arena wall by an almost level passage 

 continuous with the entrance-way. Along the X. side of this 

 trench there was a step or ledge ; at its E. end, near Hole " C," 

 the X. margin of the trench was broken, or notched, by the 

 formation of Hole " D." It contained post-hole xxxiv., in which 

 a spike-nail, yjin. long, several smaller iron nails with wood 

 adhering to them, and some tiny fragments of wood (all unidenti- 

 fiable) were found. 



Other holes, "E," "F," " G," and " H," were found in the 

 line of this inner trench at irregular intervals, the details of 



