310 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Eev. Canon Lett and others in the Ulster Journal of Archfeology, vol. iii., 1897. 

 Parts of its length, near Scarva, are of miposing dimensions, and show a huge 

 fosse with lofty ramparts on each side. Canon Lett is strongly of opinion 

 that this retains its original construction, namely, one fosse with a vallum on 

 each side ; and having gone over the whole ground, backwards and forwards, 

 he assures me that he never detected any second fosse, as in the Dorsey and 

 the Worm Ditch. I am not able to form an opinion myself ; but it is notice- 

 able in more than one portion of the Scarvagh entrenchments that the vallum 

 on one side of the fosse has a very much wider base than the other, which 

 would be explicable if a second fosse had once existed on that side and had 

 been filled by the levelling of an outer rampart. Cf. figs. 6-7, PL XYI. I 

 do not advance any opinion when so competent an antiquary has pronounced 

 against it; but I formerly came to the same conclusion as Canon Lett in regard 

 to many portions of the Worm Dyke, and parts of Duncla, namely, that the 

 original work consisted of merely one deep trench, with an outer bank, and 

 an inner vallum of great proportions, varying in height according to the 

 amount of levelling that had been done, and often another low bank which 

 had been preserved as the site of a hedge. Finding, however, on further 

 examination of the best-^Dreserved lengths, that the remaining fosse was 

 sometimes on one side of the central vallum and sometimes on the other, I 

 eventually discovered sections which were virtually intact, except for the 

 alterations which in the course of ages atmospheric agencies had brought 

 about ; and in these both fosses remained. I therefore recognize in the two 

 sections accompanying Canon Lett's article, namely, PL XVI., fig. 6, on the 

 west side of Scarvagh demesne, and fig. 7 at the east end, the possibility of 

 the former existence of two side fosses and a central vallum which has been 

 much levelled in each instance. But where the ground fell rapidly, the outer 

 fosse was represented by only an escarpment, or in addition a very shallow 

 depression bounded by a low bank, often now utilized as a hedge. The Dane's 

 Cast, where it ran through low ground, seems for the most part of its course 

 to have become entirely obliterated, or only represented by a shallow depres- 

 sion. It ran into a small lake called Lough a Dian (now drained) and 

 recommenced again at the farther shore, as does the "Worm Ditch w^hen any 

 sheets of water occur in its course. At another locality it turns suddenly at 

 right angles, and makes for a marsh about 100 yards from the county 

 boundary. This peculiarity occurs also in the Worm Ditch, in the townland 

 of Corinary, without any ostensible reason, unless it was a territorial mearing 

 desirable to be preserved, or for strategical purposes. Canon Lett discusses 

 the local name of " Dane's Cast," and points out that all circular forts and 

 earthworks in Ireland are attributed to the Danes, so that no significance 



