260 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



Before turning to the excavations it will be necessary to make 

 a few general observations on the site. We are indebted to 

 Sir Christopher Wren for first noticing Maumbury with an 

 archaeological eye, when on his frequent journeys to Portland 

 about 1674 for the selection of stone for St. Paul's Cathedral. 

 Stukeley writes at some length on the Rings, and other observa- 

 tions were made by Hutchins and Warne ; but it was overlooked 

 by Leland and Camden. 



Mr. Feacey's plan (with 5ft. contours) shows the grass-clad 

 arena on the long axis from N.N.E. to S.S.W. to be from 213 to 

 22oft., and the transverse axis i62ft., which compares favourably 

 with certain Roman arenas abroad ; the length of the entrance 

 way, 58ft. ; width, 4oft. The outside dimensions of the earthwork 

 are 345ft. on the long axis and 333ft. transversely. The maximum 

 height of the bank (above the centre of the arena) is 29'iyft. on 

 the W., and the minimum 2i'6ft. on the E. 



The Rings have passed through various vicissitudes, none more 

 alarming than its proposed demolition by the London and South- 

 western Railway Company ; but that company had to relent, as 

 did the Great Western Railway Company when permitted only to 

 tunnel under Poundbury Camp. 



Mr. A. J. Jukes-Browne, F.G.S., informs me that Maumbury 

 Rings belongs to the highest zone of the Chalk Formation in 

 Dorset, the zone of Belemnitella mucronata, and there are probably 

 900 feet of Upper Chalk below it before reaching the Chalk 

 Rock. 



Culling I. was made across the middle of the entrance, 

 42ft. by yft., at right angles to the long axis of the arena, from 

 N.N.W. to S.S.E. At the extreme E. and W. ends the solid 

 chalk was reached at a depth of o*8ft. (a length of lo'sft. in all). 

 The remaining length, 3i*5ft., in the middle, was found to extend 

 much deeper, the solid chalk by which it was bounded being 

 followed downwards at a gradual slope ; in the middle the chalk 

 floor was reached at a depth of 6' 8ft. from the surface. On the 

 E., at a depth of 4'ift., a level ledge was met with, 4'3ft. wide ; 

 then there was a second drop to the 6'8ft. level, Along the 



