EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. Ill 



the bez- and trez-tines were carefully reduced to stumps, and 

 the brow-tine bore evidence of considerable wear. Below 

 this a little burnt matter and charcoal (too fragmentary for 

 preservation) were observed ; and a large lump of chalk 

 (No. 408), length Tins., scratched with deep parallel incisions, 

 with a tapering hole penetrating one surface to a depth of 

 l^in., and having a diameter of l^in. at the top. 



Shaft XV. (Plate I.). This pit was of similar form to 

 Shaft XIV., having at the mouth a long diameter of 14ft. 

 from E. to W. and a short diameter of 8ft. from N. to S. 

 (The W. end of its mouth is seen in the foreground of Plate 

 III., B.). It was found to be 26' 7ft. deep below the nearest 

 arena-turf, and 34- 5ft. below the old turf -line under the 

 Great Bank. At 6' 2ft. from the bottom there was a definite 

 constriction in the walls of the shaft with a steeper pitch to 

 the base ; the diameter at this point varied from 3'2ft. to 

 3'5ft. The bottom was very smooth, basin-shaped, and 

 quite circular in. section, the diameter at 1ft. from the base 

 being only T7ft. Nodules of flint in the filling tried or 

 otherwise were not plentiful. 



Parts of the crown of two antlers (No. 370), one bearing 

 traces of fire, were found in the mouth of the shaft, depth 

 6'2ft. (the following depths are below nearest arena-turf) ; 

 and at a depth of 7 '6ft. portion of the antler of a slain red-deer 

 (No. 377). At 5-2ft. an antler pick (No. 380), in a weathered 

 condition ; and at lift, some pieces of burnt antler and 

 fragments of decayed oak (No. 397) were obtained. At 4* 7ft. 

 from the bottom, an antler pick (No. 399) in good condition 

 was found ; it bears clear evidence of cutting in various places, 

 presumably with stone tools. At T2ft. above the bottom 

 an antler pick (No. 400), considerably damaged, was un- 

 covered ; the beam is very massive, having a maximum 

 circumference of 165mm. between the bez- and trez-tines ; 

 circumference just above the burr about 206mm. Within 

 2ins. of the bottom the crown of an antler (No. 401) of two 

 points was found, somewhat abnormal and flat ; it was 

 stained by fire like No. 400. 



