EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 261 



Shaft VI. was the second pit completely examined, the 

 other being in Cutting X., 1908.* At the mouth it was of 

 oval outline, measuring lO'Sft. E. and W., and 6'7ft. N. and 

 S. It was divided from Shaft V. by a ridge of solid chalk, 

 about 3ft. wide. Its W. margin was against the rock-wall, 

 the E. end against the gangway (Plate IV.). 



At 1ft. below the mouth, an antler implement, perhaps a 

 combined rake and lever (No. 239) was found ; and at a depth 

 of 15ft. a pick (No. 241), the charred grip of the handle being 

 clearly denned. The other relics were found at and near the 

 bottom, which was reached at a max. depth of 19' 7ft. below 

 the surface of the gangway and 20' 7ft. below the arena-floor. 

 At l-7ft. above the lowest point a ledge occupied three- 

 quarters of the circumference of the shaft, and this might be 

 regarded as the true bottom an oval hole, l'7ft. by l'2ft. 

 on the W. side, continuing down to the above-mentioned 

 depth of 19- 7ft. 



In plan the bottom of the shaft was D-shaped, the straight 

 part of the D to the E., the curved part to the N., S., and W. 

 Here the dimensions of the shaft were 2- 75ft. (N. to S.), and 

 2 '2ft. (E. to W.). At 4ft. deep the narrowest diameter was 

 4 - 8ft. from N. to S. The N. face was very steep, the upper 

 12ft. having an inclination of 80, the lower portion being 

 almost vertical. The E. face was very different, the upper 10ft. 

 being remarkable for its ledges only one affording a secure 

 foothold ; the upper 6ft. had an inclination of 74, the next 

 4ft. about 54 ; below that, nearly vertical. 



Very little flint in its natural position was exposed on the 

 faces of the shaft, and that collected from the pure chalk 

 rubble filling, which was scarce, consisted only of badly- 

 shaped nodules, all fractured, and apparently discarded as 

 useless material. 



The credit of the actual re-excavation of this shaft is due 

 to the energy of Mr. C. S. Prideaux, who, with the foreman, 

 J. Lush, and another man, cleared out the whole of the filling. 



* Report, 1908, pp. 15-18. Proc. Dor. Field Club, XXIX., 269-272. 



