EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 97 



this plan showing that the middle of each shaft is on the line 

 of a true circle having a diameter of 169ft. Using the same 

 centre * it is found, from Mr. Feacey's plan, that the general 

 line of the crest of the Great Bank is practically a circle with 

 a diameter of about 276ft., and the diameter of the outer 

 boundary of the earthwork is about 335ft. 



The arena-floor, on the other hand, is a wide oval with 

 diameters of 192*5ft. and 158ft. (measured from the inner 

 margin of the " inner trench "), and the outside dimensions 

 of the earthwork including the bulge at the S.S.W. are 345ft. 

 on the long axis and 335ft. transversely. Within the margin 

 of the solid arena no trace of a shaft has been found, although 

 several small cuttings have been made partly with the 

 intention of testing this point. | 



Assuming that the prehistoric shafts existed before the 

 solid chalk of the central area had been lowered and the 

 arena-floor is estimated to be 11 '75ft. lower than the original 

 ground level it appears quite evident that, at the surface, 

 they did not originally take the form of pits at all. It is the 

 opinion of the director that in the position of these shafts, in 

 prehistoric times, there existed an immense circular trench, 

 or ditch, having a medial diameter of about 169ft. Judging 

 from the excavations in Cutting XXX. and elsewhere, this 

 ditch was probably some 16ft. deep below the original surface, 

 and perhaps something like 40ft. wide at the top.J 



* The centre of the 169ft. circle is at a distance of about 10ft. S.W. 

 of the central picket in the arena used for surveying purposes. 



t These cuttings were Nos. III., IV., V., VI., XI., XIII., XIV., 

 XXXIII. ; also two small unnumbered cuttings between Cutting XXX. 

 and the centre (vide Plate I.). 



J It is possible that these dimensions may have to be altered to 

 some extent. The approximate width at the top is given on the 

 assumption that the counterscarp of the fosse was at a very much 

 steeper pitch than the escarp ; but if the inclination of the escarp and 

 counterscarp did not vary much, then there must have been a decided 

 berme between the earthwork and the fosse. 



