EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY E1NGS. 113 



The excavation of the earthwork was carried down in all 

 parts to the surface of the solid chalk ; in the contour of the 

 latter there was a considerable amount of irregularity at the 

 W. end, the difference in level being accounted for by a hole, 

 or shelf, in the solid chalk (maximum depth 2ft.), which 

 extended across the cutting from N. to S. (Seen at top of 

 the ladder, Plate IV.) From this hole to the E. end the 

 level of the solid chalk varied to the extent of T5ft. As in 

 Cutting XXXII. into the outer part of the Great Bank on 

 the N., the ancient turf line in Cutting XXX., of dark brown 

 unctuous mould (max. thickness 0'5ft.), stood out in marked 

 contrast with the chalk rufible of which the greater part 

 of the earthwork was composed. A length of 25ft. was 

 uncovered, and its surface deviated from a straight line to 

 the extent of O75ft. The old surface (represented by a 

 black line in Plate IV.) was discovered at a depth of 15ft. 

 beneath the crest of the bank. Below it the chalk rock was 

 reached at depths varying from T65ft. to 2 '35ft. Near the 

 E. end, instead of finding undisturbed rubble under the old 

 surface line, dark mould for a length of 7'3ft. extended down 

 to the chalk rock ; no relics were found in this material, and 

 it did not appear to have any special significance, and was 

 probably natural. In one place a dark patch of old turf was 

 met with at a level of 2 - 2ft. above the old surface line. 



The stratification of the chalk rubble and mould forming 

 the body of the bank was extremely interesting, as may be 

 seen on the S. side of the cutting in Plate IV. In the middle 

 there were layers of fine and coarse chalk rubble alternating 

 with narrower seams of mixed mould and fine rubble ; these 

 seams were inclined towards the E. at an angle of about 35. 

 This feature provided an object lesson as to the manner in 

 which the material was thrown up, or carried up in baskets. 



At the W. limit of the Great Bank there was a difference in 

 the soils, and the original bank appeared to have been 

 disturbed as far inwards as the old surface line was found to 

 begin. Here (on the S. face of the cutting) the section of 

 what appeared to be a small trench, or ledge, filled with a 



