SURVEYS OF VALLEY ENTRENCHMENTS. 41 



intersects the balk, thereby affording suggestive evidence that 

 the cultivation is earlier than the earthwork. 



Fig. 2. 



SOUTHCOMBE VALLEY ENTRENCHMENT, 

 PlDDLETRENTHIDE . 



In the construction of enclosures falling under type B , the 

 side of a valley seems to have been preferred ; but, in each 

 example, the lowest rampart runs approximately parallel 

 to and adjoins the base of the valley. 



Like the Bronze Age Camp on Martin Down, and the 

 smaller work at Beltout, the Southcombe valley entrench- 

 ment conforms to this type. It is situated just below the 

 500ft. contour on a natural hollow in the north side of a valley 

 which has been known as Southcombe since 1815. (12) The 

 entrenchment lies about a quarter of a mile south of two 

 other valley enclosures in Tenant's Bottom, from which it is 

 separated by the ridge of Lower Down. 



The east and west ramparts run at about the same in- 

 clination downhill, and, with the exception of the slight 

 platform and scarp (" c " on plan), the interior is practically 

 an even plane sloping gently from north to south. It is 

 difficult from a mere superficial examination to account for 

 the origin of the scarp " c." Its greatest vertical height is 

 about 10ft., and it curiously resembles the platform and 

 scarp which partly traverse a Sussex valley entrenchment in 

 Bramble Bottom, near Eastbourne. 



The greater part of the western rampart is covered with 

 bushes. Some of the hawthorns, especially the lower clump, 

 have stems over one foot in diameter. 



12. So named in plan of land for sale ; 21st March, 1816- 



