96 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



the fall from W.S.W. to E.N.E. being l'32ft.* On the 

 other hand a level of the floor taken close to the Well (Cutting 

 XXXIII.) on the N.N.W. agrees exactly with the arena-floor 

 at the S. end of Cutting XXX. on the E.S.E., but some of 

 the intermediate levels taken varied to the extent of 0'85ft. 

 Again, it was ascertained in 1908 that from the centre of 

 the arena to the N. Entrance there was a gradual fall of 

 0'75ft., whereas the floor was found to be level from the 

 centre up to the margin of the so-called " den " on the 

 S.S.E. The lowest part of the arena appears, therefore, 

 to have been between Cutting II. Extension and Cutting 

 XXX. 



In speaking of the Roman work it may also be recorded 

 here that the enclosed platform of solid chalk in Cutting XX. 

 on the W.N.W. was l*15ft. higher than the nearest part of 

 the arena-floor, whereas the corresponding platform in 

 Cutting XXX. on the E.S.E. was T5ft. (average) lower 

 than the adjacent arena. The maximum dimensions of 

 each of the enclosed platforms were 15'75ft. by lift. The 

 so-called "den" (Cutting XV., 1909) measured 17'5ft. 

 by 13'5ft., and was absolutely level with the adjacent arena- 

 floor. 



From the excavation of Cutting X. (1908) on the N. and 

 Cutting XXX. (1913) on the E.S.E. , it has been clearly 

 shown that the vertical depth from the old turf line under 

 the Great Bank to the adjacent arena-floor is 11 '75ft. ; and 

 as the average depth between the old turf line and the solid 

 chalk was found to be 2ft. in Cuttings X., XXX., and XXXII., 

 it is evident that a depth of 9 '75ft. of virgin chalk was 

 removed in the central area subsequently to Neolithic times, 

 and presumably by the Romans. 



As Plate I. shows, the position of seventeen shafts has now 

 been determined, and a dotted line has been indicated on 



* The stratification of the chalk rock dipped from N.N.W. to 

 S.S.E. 



