264 REPORTS ON THE STATE OP SCIENCE. — 1920. 



hardened clay. The core of tiiis rampart was composed in places of rubble 

 and in places of clay, probably the work of different gangs of labourers. Here 

 there does not appear to be a floor in actual contact with the wall, but there 

 was one four feet below it. This, Floor B, was first visible as a thin layer 

 of soil covering the surface of a former clay rampart thrown up rather S. 

 of the crest of the present one. It was followed up towards the N., 4 ft. below 

 the bottom of the above-named wall, 2 ft. below Floor A2, over a low bank of 

 made clay, till, at length, it became indistinguishable from Floor A. Along 

 its course animal bones, charcoal, pot-boilers, and the cut shank-bone of an ox 

 with four holes drilled in it (probably used for weaving) were found. Con- 

 siderable slony remains, apparently of buildings destroyed by fire, as in the 

 S.W. section, were also encountered. These ruins will require working out by 

 exposure of larger areas. 



Floor C was next sought for in this cutting by driving in trenches at 

 increasing depths from the eouthem slope of the rampart. The floor, which 

 was shown to be a surface of human habitation by finds of broken animal bones 

 and charcoal, was finally discovered at a level of 27 ft. below the present crest. 

 It was followed up for a distance of 32 ft., when the cutting became too 

 dangerous to continue. The absence of a ditch in this floor in a similar posi- 

 tion to that found in the S.W. cutting was noticeable. We next excavated 

 to reach this floor from the northern side of the rampart. Digging down below 

 Floor B, we came upon the core of a stone rampart, with several massive wall- 

 facing stones in situ in front of it, erected upoxi a demonstrable continuation of 

 Floor C. This rampart had been visibly thrown down almost to its founda- 

 tions and its stones filled an earth-cut ditch 10 ft. wide which was subsequently 

 discovered a few feet in front of it. We cleared out most of these stones, finding 

 animal bones, pot-boilers, and an antler among them, and measured the V-shaped 

 sides of the ditch as we proceeded. But the dangerous nature of the cutting 

 unfortunately prevented our reaching the bottom, 7 ft. deep, except by probing ; 

 a cracking side obliged us to withdraw — just before a fall of earth commenced. 

 There could be litfle doubt that this ruined rampart and ditch were portions of 

 the earliest defences erected upon the hill-side. Strange to say, however, the 

 rampart did not here rest upon the original ground. Beneath it there was a 

 layer, 6 in. to 12 in. thick, composed of broken stones — at first Sight much like 

 the metalling of a road. But inspection showed that they were fractured by 

 heat and were such as were usually recognised as pot-boilers. Upon and among 

 these stones numerous bones of domestic animals were found, many broken for 

 marrow, as well as much charcoal. Altogether this layer, which we uncovered 

 for some four square yards, had all the appearance of a ' cooking hearth,' except 

 for the absence of an adjacent water-supply. This ' hearth ' must have existed 

 on the hilj-side before rampart C was thrown up. 



While the main rampart was being excavated, about 85 square yards of the 

 top Floor A were explored in the interior of the stronghold and many relics 

 found which were unmistakably dated by coins foimd alongside. These relics, 

 when worked out, will afford valuable material for the classification of the 

 later Eomano-British pottery, or at any rate of such common wares as were 

 spread among native hill tribes bv traders at that time. Although marked 

 progress has been made and much has been learned as the result of this year's 

 work, the area uncovered of thg deeper Floors B and C is as yet very limited. 

 It is most desirable that larger surfaces of both should be excavated. Then 

 only will it be possible to join up the layers of occupation found in the ram- 

 parts with the roadways and constructions discovered in former years in the 

 S.E. entrances. Many promising sites spread over the 5-i acres of the hill- 

 fort are also ' calling out ' for exploration. We look forward to continuing 

 work at Dinorben next year. 



