202 



THE BATH ROAD 



great earthwork, and is crossed midway l^y another ; 

 together, with part of the village built within the 

 circle, cutting it up lamentably. 



Silbury Hill, which stands within sight, is a fitting- 

 pendant to these mysteries. Antiquaries have con- 

 tended together in referring both to ancient Britons, 

 Phoenicians, Danes, Saxons, and even Romans, and 

 are divided in opinion as to their object : whether 

 they were intended for Druids' or Snake-worshippers' 



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K-r 



SILBURY HILL. 



temples, or whether they marked the last resting- 

 places of those slain in some great battle fought 

 before the dawn of history. That Silbury Hill stood 

 here when the Romans came seems, however, to be 

 certain from the fact that the old Roman road from 

 Cunetio to Aquw Sol is (the existing Bath Road 

 lietween Marlborough and Bath), engineered along 



