THE PROBLEM OF LYKCHETS. 8q 



the lynchet to a certain crundel ... to the hanging 

 water-shoot." 



In a grant of land at Fontmell, Dorset, 932, the boundary 

 line runs along to the hlinchcs broc{C'Si. II, 384), "the stream 

 on the lynchet." 



And in a grant of land at Mitchelder, Hampshire, qoo, 

 mention is made of a -^cBter-hlinc (C.S. II. 245), "a water 

 lynchet." 

 27. It is now sufficiently clear, not only that the Anglo-Saxons 

 were careful irrigators, but also that they constructed water- 

 channels of such magnitude as to serve for lines of demarcation. 

 And it is clear, too, that the crundel itself was often carried 

 along the lynchet. 



The former existence of a water-lynchet was assumed by 

 Major Coates in order to account for certain ledges and levels 

 near Dorchester, and the excavations that were conducted last 

 summer fully substantiate the theory. 



The terraces to which he called attention were, by the kind 

 permission and consent of the landowners and tenants, cut 

 across in seven places, namely, in one at Poundbury east of the 

 section made by Mr. Barnes, in one at Eweleaze beyond Brad- 

 ford Peverell, and in five places at Whitefield. These five 

 excavations were necessary in order to clear up a very serious 

 difficulty, for the Whitefield lynchet, as it approaches Dorchester, 

 descends as much as 16 feet below the level of that at Pound- 

 bury. It was discovered that the crundel left the lynchet at the 

 point where the latter begins to dip too much and kept up along 

 the hillside at such a gradient as to be able, without hydraulic 

 miracle, to join the Poundbury channel. 



The facts thus disclosed afford an interesting proof that solid 

 hills may travel — that their surface, moved by winds and rains, 

 may slowly advance in a definite direction, after the manner of 

 sand-dunes that progress quickly, and obliterate all that lies 

 below. 



As stated elsewhere, the watercourse is at present about six 

 feet wide and four feet deep. Its sides probably sloped. It is 



