98 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



Estimated by the average slope of the sides of the shafts it 

 is evident that they could not have shown themselves on 

 the original surface as pits, and, indeed, it is seen by a glance 

 at the plan and sections that the mouths of the majority of 

 the shafts united below the level of the arena-floor. Had we 

 re-excavated the long hollows, called Shafts IV. and XVII., 

 to a greater depth, it is probable that they would have been 

 found to divide into several pits. 



It appears, therefore, that a large circular fosse was 

 originally cut to obtain material to form the encircling bank, 

 and that shafts of various shapes were sunk from the bottom 

 of this trench. On the other hand it is possible that the 

 shafts may have been excavated first, and before any regular 

 bottom of the fosse was cut. 



We have nothing further to add with regard to the purpose 

 of the shafts since the last part of Section V. of the 1912 

 Report was written, beyond what is mentioned above. It 

 is not known how long they were left open ; but it is evident 

 that they were not filled in by ramming (except just at the 

 mouths), as the rubble was found to be very loosely compacted. 

 There can be no doubt that more chalk was excavated from 

 the shafts than found its way back into them. The additional 

 material might have been used to increase the height of the 

 earthwork. 



In the former reports the depth of the shafts has been 

 given as measured from the nearest part of the arena-turf. 

 Now that the old surface line under the Great Bank has been 

 exposed in three places, it is possible to give their approximate 

 depth below the original surface of Neolithic times. On 

 these lines it is estimated that the average depth of the seven 

 re-excavated shafts was originally 35ft., whilst their average 

 depth below the nearest arena-turf of the present day is 

 exactly 27ft.* 



* The same depth as the unfinished Well. 

 (Cutting XXXIII.). 



