246 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



slightly penetrating the rock-chalk bed.* Very few objects 

 were found in this trench ; they consisted of a few scraps of 

 iron, including some nails, a piece of New Forest ware, 

 small fragments of Romano-British pottery, and part of the 

 base of a red Samian bowl (No. 189), bearing the maker's 

 mark OF. SEVER I. Severus was a potter of La Graufe- 

 senque about A.D. 50-60. 



An entirely new structural feature was met with here, 

 which has given rise to some discussion. I refer to the rough, 

 shallow, flat-bottomed gutter connecting one oval and three 

 oblong pits, the centres of which were 5'5ft. apart. This 

 row of holes, which was on the curve, was on the arena side 

 of the inner trench, to which it did not run quite parallel. 

 The nearer margins of the two trenches on the east were 

 separated to the extent of T75ft., but they met on the west 

 at a distance of 16' 7ft. E. of the long axis line ; and the 

 westerly oblong pit was recessed into the inner wall of the 

 inner trench. All the pits were about T9ft. deep below the 

 arena-floor ; the oval pit was 2' 1ft. by T8ft. at the top 

 and the oblong pits averaged 2'25ft. by T25ft. Nothing 

 was found in any of these holes, and no traces of the former 

 existence of posts, as would be expected, had posts ever been 

 permanently fixed in this position. The holes may continue 

 in a S.E. direction, but the point could not be determined 

 this season. It is uncertain, therefore, whether this line of 

 holes was constructed at the same time as the inner trench, 

 or whether it existed previously ; in support of the latter 

 view it is seen that the inner trench unites with the northern 

 side of the most westerly of the oblong pits.f 



* In one or two places in the trench traces of a buff-coloured substance were 

 observed, which Mr. Jukes-Browne thinks very possibly may be burnt chalk. 

 Over the inner trench in the E.S.E. corner of the digging traces of charcoal were 

 noticed. 



t It has been suggested that these pits may have contained the bases of 

 posts or columns for the support of a velarium in this part of the 

 amphitheatre. 



