268 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



to take even their rest on their legs. Scipio incurred popular 

 dislike because he assigned separate places to the Senate 

 and the common people, when it had been the custom 

 during hundreds of years for all classes to witness the games 

 promiscuously. 



The formation of the terrace proved to be of great interest. It 

 soon became evident that it had been added to the earlier 

 structure, the old turf-line of the latter following the general 

 slope of the embankment, and then turning at an obtuse angle 

 towards the arena. Much glazed pottery of late date, including 

 pieces which can be ascribed to the seventeenth century, was 

 found in the material forming the terrace at depths varying from 

 8ft. to 5ft., most of it on the surface of the turf of the old 

 embankment. 



Digging at the foot of the terrace-bank we expected, if not to 

 find the chalk wall of the arena, to reach the arena-floor at the 

 usual level, for which purpose the cutting was extended towards 

 the S.S.E. In this extension we found the solid floor at a depth 

 of 4ft. below the turf. It ceased abruptly, however, but we 

 traced it further towards the bank as a thin layer of rammed 

 chalk. On penetrating this artificial floor, it was found that 

 soft material extended downwards for a considerable distance, 

 revealing relics of pre-Roman date only. We then fully realised 

 the fact that those responsible for forming the level arena-floor 

 had in the course of their work met with the upper deposits of a 

 deep hollow. The large amount of mould which had accumu- 

 lated over the arena-floor must have done so during Roman 

 times, and from then till the building of the terrace, and in it 

 several Roman objects were found mostly resting on the rammed 

 chalk floor or just above it. They include iron shears, an 

 iron javelin-head, and a large bronze fibula. The brooch is 

 about 3|in. long, the pin (now deficient) and axis being of 

 iron ; it shows evidence of prolonged use, and is precisely 

 similar to one found in the Romano-British Village of Woodcuts. 

 The javelin-head and shears are similar to others found in the 

 S.W. counties. Romano-British pottery was i'nirly plentiful, and 



