EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 233 



I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



The third season's work has not only strengthened our 

 knowledge of the details of structural interest exposed during 

 the excavations of 1908 and 1909, but, as so many new features, 

 some of minor, some of much greater importance have 

 been revealed, the exact purposes of which are problematical, 

 it has given rise to a general expression of opinion that the 

 work must be continued if this deeply interesting archaeological 

 investigation is to be of lasting value ; and it is felt that it 

 should be finished in a manner acceptable to earnest anti- 

 quaries. 



The Committee fully anticipates being in a position to 

 continue the excavations in the summer of 1912, in which 

 year the Liverpool Committee for Research in Wales hopes 

 to renew the exploration of the amphitheatre known as ' ' King 

 Arthur's Round Table," at Caerleon. The two amphitheatres 

 differ in an interesting manner, for whereas the formation 

 of the structural details at Maumbury is the result of the 

 removal of a large amount of chalk -rock, masonry is the chief 

 feature prevailing at Caerleon. 



Although no vestige of stone walls was in sight at the begin- 

 ning of the Caerleon excavations, the first cutting made re- 

 vealed an outer retaining- wall some 5" 5ft. thick, with heavy 

 external buttres'ses and smaller internal ones, apparently 

 placed alternately. The inner or arena wall at a lower level, 

 estimated to have been 7ft. high, was thinner and without 

 buttresses, and although it has been much plundered, there are 

 places in which the three courses are still standing. About 

 35ft. intervened between the two walls, but in this position 

 no seats have been found. The arena appears to have been 

 paved with river cobbles, covered with sand some lOin. thick. 

 The southern entrance, which may have been vaulted, is 

 about 9ft. wide between massively constructed jambs built 

 of freestone blocks 4ft. in length. On the east, or north- 

 east, there is another entrance, apparently with incurved 

 sides. 



