256 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



digging this season in the direction required. The level 

 area uncovered was 12ft. long by 10-Sft. at the widest 

 part. 



It is an interesting fact that this enclosure was l'15ft. 

 higher than the nearest part of the arena-floor and T85ft. 

 higher than the so-called gangway in this cutting. Its surface 

 was smooth and well worn, as if by constant treading. The 

 only relics found in clearing the silt here were part of a globular 

 bowl of Romano-British pottery (No. 225), an iron ring 

 (No. 220), 2|in. in diameter, and a " third brass " coin of 

 Tacitus, A. D. 275-6 (No. 217), tinned and finely preserved, with 

 mint mark CA struck probably at Arelatum (Fig. 5). 



In a line from S.S.W. to N.N.E., towards the front of the 

 platform and about 6'5ft. from the W.N.W. wall, three holes 

 were found in the floor about 3ft. apart. They varied very 

 much in size and shape, the most southerly (that seen in Plate 

 IV.) being the largest, T75ft. by l'4ft. at top, and l'25ft. deep ; 

 in it a tail-bone of fox was found. 



Along the base of the S.S.W. return wall a trench was cut in 

 the solid chalk extending from the W.N.W. wall for a distance 

 of 6'6ft., i.e., up to the line of the three holes above mentioned. 

 At both ends it was deepened (max. depth 2ft.), presumably to 

 form socket holes for two posts ; all these features are well 

 shown in the drawings of details. The object of these posts 

 is not clear, unless they were intended to carry a hoarding, 

 which hardly seems likely, as it would obscure the deep 

 recess penetrating the end wall (Plate IV.). The flat base of 

 the recess, irregular in plan, did not extend to the level of the 

 platform by about 2ft. The sides (max. height 3- 7ft.) were 

 smooth, and in one place in particular, long vertical tool- 

 marks were observed, of which a cast was taken. Half-way 

 down the recess a large iron nail and a fragment of Romano- 

 British pottery with bead rim (No. 218) were found ; and in 

 the mixed silting in front of the recess and over the trench 

 a bronze brooch (No. 216), in a good state of preservation, 

 was discovered (Fig. 5). It is of the La Tene III. type, of 

 a form found at Winterborne Kingston (Dorset County 



