100 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



There are features at Maumbury which resemble 

 Avebury, and the interior fosse in both cases may have been 

 intended for the same purpose, perhaps to prevent animals 

 and the ordinary people from trespassing on a spot reserved 

 for ceremonies conducted by privileged people. The forth- 

 coming excavations at Avebury (Easter, 1914), both into the 

 fosse and vallum, may result in strengthening a comparison 

 between these two prehistoric enclosures. 



III. CUTTING XXXIII. 

 THE WELL (PLATES I., II., AND III.). 



This cutting, which measured 12ft. by 9ft., partly over- 

 lapped a small extension of Cutting XXI. (1912). On the 

 E., S., and W. the Roman arena-floor was reached at an 

 average depth of 3'4ft. below the surface. The floor was 

 more or less stained, as in other places, owing to long exposure 

 during the use of the site as an amphitheatre. The surface 

 was rather rough, but covered with the " shingle " previously 

 described. 



In the N. corner of the cutting, solid chalk was reached at a 

 depth of 6 - 3ft. and had the appearance of being fresh cut. In 

 the central area, on the E., S., and W., it was also found that 

 the ground had been cut out to a greater depth than the 

 arena-floor, a chalk " wall," T75ft. in height, connecting 

 the Roman and more recent levels. (Plate III., A.). 



On digging deeper in the centre, where loose filling existed, 

 the mouth of a circular shaft, or well, was revealed, having 

 a diameter of 4ft. In clearing this area a few fragments of 

 pottery (one piece glazed) were collected, none of which was 

 earlier than the XVII. Century. 



On the N. side of the shaft some slabs of Purbeck limestone 

 were uncovered (Plate III., A.), and they were found to 

 continue round its margin towards the W.N.W. for a distance 

 of 3ft. (rather more than a quarter of the circumference of the 



