ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE AT DORCHESTER. 49 



and probably another opposite for the ' editor ' of the shows, 

 and it is remarkable that a little prominence is still left in 

 these places. They are set in the middle of the podium upon 

 the shortest diameter, and were covered with canopies like a 

 tabernacle." Many of the details shown in our excavations 

 can be best explained by accepting Dr. Stukeley's suggestion. 



He evidently devoted much thought to a consideration of 

 the seating arrangements for spectators. He draws a plan 

 showing 24 tiers of seats, and says " We may well infer that 

 they were covered with planks, if not made wholly of it. 

 But again the people of Rome originally stood at the games ; 

 and if any one would rather think that ours never had any 

 seats, but that the people stood upon the grassy declivity, I 

 shall not be averse to it. Yet it seemed to me, viewing the 

 sides very curiously, when the sun shone upon them with a 

 proper light and shade, that I could see the very marks of 

 the poles that lay upon the slopes whereon the benches were 

 fastened." Dr. Stukeley even calculates the number of 

 people that might be commodiously present, saying there 

 were 12,960 places for spectators upon the whole range of 

 seats, omitting all that might occasionally stand on the 

 terrace at the top, on the ascent up to it, and at the entrance. 



Having now dealt with the chief features of this intereeting 

 work, I think we may fairly claim that the " local tradition," 

 as embodied in the treatise of Dr. Stukeley, has been proved 

 by the recent investigation to be substantially correct, and 

 that Maumbury Ring is the site of the Roman 

 Amphitheatre. 



There is of course no objection to the discussion of rival 

 theories, and indeed I agree with Dr. Stukeley's remark, 

 " Difference of opinions, though false, is often of great service 

 in furthering discovery of truth." 



