88 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



the five shafts re-excavated were 24-5, 25'5, 28, 28*5, and 

 30 feet respectively. 



One of the chief reasons for making this large cutting 

 (No. XXI.) was to complete the excavation of the N.W. 

 quarter of the margin of the arena from the transverse axis 

 to the northern entrance, and to trace the arena wall con- 

 tinuously, the inner and outer trenches, and the post-holes 

 in which the vertical supports for the barriers formerly stood. 

 This has been satisfactorily accomplished. 



The most important things which remain to be done 

 are : The excavation of the eastern recess and platform 

 (on the line of the transverse axis), if such exist ; the tracing 

 of the arena wall and its accompanying features from the 

 middle of the eastern side to Cutting II. Extension near the 

 northern entrance ; and the examination of the great embank- 

 ment down to the ancient turf line. It is proposed to cut a 

 section through half the bank from the inner side in one 

 position, and half from the outer side in quite a different 

 place ; in this way there will be no permanent disfigurement 

 to the present contour of the earthwork, and the archaeological 

 evidence derivable thereby should be as valuable by this 

 means as by making a single cutting straight through the 

 great bank. It is a question, too, if the front (N. side) of the 

 so-called " den " should not be examined. Time did not 

 permit of completing the work in this position in 1909. 



II. EXCAVATIONS OUTSIDE THE NORTHERN ENTRANCE, 



CUTTINGS XXII., XXVI., XXVIII., AND XXIX., SEE 

 PLAN, PLATE I. 



(See Cuttings XVII. and XIX., Report, 1910.) 



Cutting XXII. in the first instance measured 36ft. by 

 6ft., and was made at right angles to the long axis of Maum- 

 bury. In digging Cutting XVII. (1910) the N. limit of the 

 floor of the ancient entrance was not reached ; it was found 



