90 EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 



behind the Police Station late in 1910, and its position was 

 noted by Mr. C. S. Prideaux. 



In digging Cutting XXII. an entirely new structural 

 feature was found, viz., a large ditch (called the New Ditch) of 

 V-shaped section extending obliquely across the W. half of 

 the cutting. Its E. termination, abrupt and clean cut, was 

 found to be about 6ft. short of the W. margin of the C.W. 

 trench. Here its average dimensions at the Roman floor 

 level were, — width at top 7ft., depth 3- 7ft. In the filling 

 of the ditch a number of shards of potter^-, some glazed, 

 were found, all, except two small Romano-British frag- 

 ments, dating between Norman times and the XVII. 

 Century. 



Cutting XXIII., lift, by 4ft., was dug with the intention of 

 tracing the course of the new ditch, which was found to be 

 clearly defined, and its N. margin was also traced between 

 this cutting and Cutting XXII. In the filling at a depth of 

 2*3ft. was found the false spout of some sort of glazed puzzle- 

 jug (No. 336), Avith slits and perforations, date circa 1650. 

 With the same object in view the E. end of Cutting XXVII. 

 was dug, bvit the ditch was not found to extend so far 

 westwards. 



Cutting XXVI., 16'8ft. long, 4"7ft. max. width, was also 

 dug to follow the New Ditch, and it soon became evident 

 that it made an abrupt turn southwards at the N. end of the 

 cutting (see Plan). The full width of the ditch was not 

 exposed here, but the bottom was laid bare (average width 

 l*6ft.). On the outer side, on the top of the solid chalk profile 

 of the ditch, a semicircular recess was cleared out, measuring 

 2^ft. in length. Glazed shards were again found here, and 

 close to the bottom a modern tea-spoon (No. 261) of German 

 silver, plated, circa 1870. The shape of the spoon came into 

 use at the end of the XVIII. Century, but this thin form is of 

 much more recent date. 



In seeking the termination of the ditch. Cutting XXVIII., 

 a small excavation, 6ft. by 55ft., was made further south. 

 Here a quantity of ox bones was found within 3ft. of the 



