PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 213 



It has been suggested that many of the earthworks may 

 have served a double purpose, being available as roadways, 

 and also as boundary lines and divisions between the property 

 of neighbouring tribes, just as there are borough boundaries 

 in these days. The Rev. W. Barnes, in speaking of these 

 dykes and boundary roads, says : " Who can believe that 

 the Britons or Belgse could have manned scores of miles of a 

 low bank or shallow ditch over which men or boys might have 

 gone anywhere with a single stride ? " They represent evidently 

 divisions of districts amongst the tribes, as decided by mutual 

 agreement. These ancient trackways converge towards two 

 centres in Dorset. Badbury Rings, near Wimborne, is the 

 northern centre ; while Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, is the 

 southern. Amongst those leading to Badbury Rings is one 

 of great antiquity, still discernible descending the slopes of 

 the southern bank of the river Stour in the direction of the 

 British settlements on the chalk downs of Littleton and 

 Charlton parishes. On the opposite side of the river several 

 similar ways may be easily distinguished leading eastward to 

 Badbury Camp, from the sites of the British villages on the 

 downs of Tarrant Monkton, Rawston, and Keynston. 



Starting presumably from Shaftesbury and leading from 

 the British fort on Winklebury Hill is a grass lane sunk deeply 

 between high banks which goes towards Cranborne. When 

 it reaches the hill side it enters a typical British road with an 

 entrenched track, where travellers are completely hidden 

 from sight as they climb the hill. It makes a very safe 

 and secret way into the stronghold from the north. The 

 track winds up and round the hill in spiral fashion, and opens 

 at length upon the south slope of the down into the Ox drove 

 or Ridgeway. It was evidently a cattle track from one 

 settlement to another, for it kept to the hill top as being the 

 only safe way to avoid surprise attacks. The lowlands, with 

 their tangle of forest and swamp, afforded most excellent 

 covert for marauding men and beasts. 



A Celtic or Belgic boundary called Comb's Ditch begins 

 a little south of Clenston church. It ascends the brow of 



