FIELD MEETINGS. 197 
hill—at the 700 feet level, at the goo feet level, and at the hill 
crest. A later and careful survey does not quite favour this. 
At the 700 feet level the two most conspicuous and most im- 
portant items are the great north and south camps. It would 
be rather an unwarranted assumption to hold that these are 
linked by a complete rampart. At all events we have the 
works themselves. A cursory survey and a glance at the 
plan* will serve a better purpose than explanation. Note- 
worthy are the curious mounds guarding the entrances to 
both camps, especially the ‘‘ Three Brethren ’’ of the South 
Camp, which, after 1900 years, still keep silent ward against 
phantom forces of savage Celts, as these pour precipitously 
down the slope. The mound at “B’’* is not Roman. 
Jonathan Oldbuck holds it is an old sheep pen. Not so the re- 
doubt at ‘‘ C.’’* It is obviously Roman, though its purpose is 
not clear. Ascending the hill face we reach at the goo feet level 
the second line of circumvallation, for the most part a single 
rampart, strengthened by a redoubt at the three entrances— 
one to the north, two to the south. The tabular summit is 
broken in two by a low saddle. Within the western section 
is the enclosure marked ‘‘ D,’’* quite probably designed for 
the last stand. Within the eastern section is a mound “‘ E,’’* 
said by some to be a cairn of the Bronze Age. Altogether a 
remarkable, nay even unique, system, of which we ought to 
be justly proud. 
In the Dark Ages. 
Leaving Roman times, we come to what are termed the 
Dark Ages, somewhat obscure in Scotland as well as in the 
rest of Europe. The period is, however, associated in Scot- 
tish history with the consolidation of the Kingdom. Closely 
connected with the welding together of the four early Scot- 
tish Kingdoms is the Battle of Brunanburgh (937). Before 
its date Dalriada and Pictland had amalgamated (844), but 
Strathclyde and Lothian still maintained separate existences. 
With Lothian held by the Angles, the position of Strathclyde 
was insecure, and Brunanburgh represents the final episode 
* This refers to Fig. 70—Birrenswark, on p. 96 of the Historical 
Monuments Commission’s Report for the County. 
