234 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1913. 
ditches had been in part re-excavated at a later date. This was appa- 
rently the work of the fourfh-century inhabitants of the stronghold. 
The accumulated results of the two seasons’ work now show that 
during the fourth century, or earlier, the natives of the district re- 
occupied the hill fort after its previous destruction at some unknown 
time; that they entrenched themselves behind ramparts roughly 
constructed upon ruins and defended by shallow ditches re-excavated 
in deeper ones previously filled up; and that they cut a fresh entrance 
to the south-east through the débris of an older one. 
A closer date for this return to the hill-top is apparently obtained by 
further finds, made this year, of Roman ‘ third ’ and ‘ small brass ’ coins. 
The total number found during the two seasons amounts to thirty-seven 
from sixteen different sites; they are as follows:—One Trajan, very 
worn; one Julia Mamaea, worn; four Gallienus, more or less worn; 
one Claudius Gothicus, fair condition; three Tetricus, cut and worn; 
two Carausius, in good condition; one Crispus, corroded; four Con- 
stantinus Magnus (minted about a.p. 335), in fine condition; one 
Constantinus II., in fine condition; one Constantius II., in good con- 
dition; ten Constans, in corroded to fine condition; three Magnentius, 
in corroded to good condition; one Valens, in good condition; one 
Gratianus, in good condition; one illegible. It is to be noted that 
though careful watch was kept for the ‘ minimi’ of the fifth century, 
none were discovered. Most of the coins found were struck in 
Gaul; the majority were minted a.p. 835 to a.p. 353, and the latest 
about a.p. 380. On the numismatic evidence therefore this would 
seem to point to a reoccupation of the site somewhere about a.p. 340, 
and either to a final abandonment, or else to a cutting off of traffic with 
the Roman world, soon after a.p. 380. It is suggested that the return 
of the natives to the ruined fort on the hill-top may have been caused by 
raids of Trish or other sea pirates who boldly infested the coast after the 
withdrawal of the Roman troops from this district some time prior to 
A.D. 340. 
But, as has been previously pointed out, the above is a mere 
episode in the story of this hill fort, which is of far earlier origin. 
This summer’s excavations have thrown further light upon its earlier 
constructions. The plan of the more ancient entrance at the south- 
east, also found to have two guardhouses, has been in part recovered 
from the ruins. This entrance had a good gravelled roadway and side 
walls in dry masonry better built than those of the later superin- 
cumbent entrance; it had apparently post-holes for a single gate only. 
In many ways it resembles one of the three entrances excavated by the 
Abergele Antiquarian Association some years ago in the ancient hill- 
fortress on Pen-y-corddyn, three miles distant. 
Eighteen cuttings made at various points in front of the ramparts 
have revealed the courses of ditches for the most part previously hidden 
from sight by débris. At the north end there was a single ditch across 
the spur of the hill below the main rampart, and this ditch was con- 
tinued along the north-east side. It was V-shaped, and was cut, from 
five to seven feet deep, and from seven to nine feet wide across its 
top, out of solid rock. Opposite to a point where an entrance had 
