ANCIENT 

 EARTHWORKS 



THE earthworks of Sussex are numerically and archsolo- 

 gically important. They present considerable variety of 

 form, and are capable of definite classification. 

 In the present article it is proposed to deal with each 

 of the earthworks in Sussex, and to illustrate by means of 

 plans all the more important examples. It may be convenient to explain 

 that the purpose is to record and describe each work, to give an account 

 of its surroundings and strategic value, but not, except where sufficient 

 and satisfactory evidence is available, to venture upon conjecture or 

 speculation as to the period to which it belongs. The danger of 

 assigning prehistoric and historic earthworks to definite dates or periods 

 without a careful exploration and excavation on the site will be obvious 

 to those who remember that several of the camps have been occupied 

 at different periods, and that their defensive works may have been modi- 

 fied or extended by successive occupants. So little is known about 

 objects which may lie below the surface, and the period they indicate, 

 that the present state of archsological knowledge on the subject of 

 British earthworks must be described as imperfect. In some cases 

 probably nothing short of an elaborate investigation of the site will 

 suffice to settle the question of age, but in the meanwhile the Congress 

 of Archsological Societies has outlined an excellent scheme for recording 

 ancient defensive earthworks and fortified enclosures. In the schedules 

 contemplated by the Committee on Earthworks, with whom the scheme 

 originated, it is suggested that ' though careful record should be made 

 of any " finds " indicative of period of use of the forts, no effort need be 

 made to assign a definite period of construction, excepting in those cases 

 in which the age is beyond question, e.g. camps and fortified settlements 

 of undoubted Roman origin, or enclosures of proved Neolithic, Bronze, 

 or Iron Age.' 



The following are the classes into which defensive works may be 

 divided : — 



' (A) Fortresses partly inaccessible, by reason of precipices, cliffs, or 

 water, additionally defended by artificial banks or walls 

 usually known as promontory fortresses. 

 (B) Fortresses on hill-tops with artificial defences, folloiving the 

 natural line of the hill ; 



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