66 Casterley Camp Excavations. 



surfaces levelled off earlier than others. It was found that in the 

 ditches seen by Sir R. C. Hoare there was as a rule, a very evident 

 old turf line, showing what had been their surface level before the 

 hollows that marked the course of the ditches in his time had been 

 filled up as a result of cultivation. In the ditches that Sir E. C. 

 Hoare could not see, as in the case of Nos. 2, 8, 9, 11, there was no 

 such old turf line. It seems, therefore, that these ditches must 

 have been levelled off purposely at some early date, for if left Co 

 silt up naturally they would never have filled to the top any more 

 than the ditches that he did see, or that of the outer entrenchment. 

 These ditches may have begun to silt up naturally, but the filling 

 must have been completed artificially before there had been time 

 to form a turf line over their surfaces. The obliteration of these 

 ditches could not have been due to cultivation at some undefined 

 period before the advent of Sir R. C. Hoare, and after the aban- 

 donment of the site, for had such been the case all the ditches 

 would have been subjected to the same conditions. It is suggested 

 that these ditches were levelled off by the inhabitants themselves 

 when they were no longer needed. Large quantities of rubbish 

 were certainly thrown into the ditches, more especially Nos. 8, 6, 

 and the higher part of 11. The filling in at some of the cuttings 

 of these ditches was composed almost entirely of ashes and black 

 earthy soil, quite distinct from the usual chalky silt, and sherds of 

 pottery, broken bones, etc., were more than usually abundant. 

 The edges of No. 8 were worn into steps, possibly by people 

 scrambling in and out, and it was suggested that very possibly 

 they were used as latrines. 



The dimensions of the ditches are shown in the sections, but the 

 following table of depths may help to give more readily a general 

 idea of their size : — 



to 9ft. deep (the greater depth being on 

 either side of the entrance). 



„ 4ft. 9in. deep. 



„ 6ft. 6in. „ 



itch No. 1 



7ft. 



„ „ 2 



„ „ 3 



4 



„ „ 5 



4ft. 



5ft. lOin 

 6ft. 

 4ft. 



