By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



147 



ponent parts of the hill, as they were originally placed in situ by 

 the workmen (whoever they were) and as they were revealed by 

 the tunnel which penetrated to the centre in 1849 under the auspices 

 of the Archaeological Institute. 1 It will be seen that at the nucleus 

 of the mound these several materials lie in regular layers, (or 

 segments of concentric circles) 2 as they must have been taken 

 from the surrounding ground and there deposited : the curve of the 

 strata plainly showing the commencement of the accumulation, by 

 which this gigantic tumulus had been formed : 3 thus we have 



1st, (at a) Light rubble with flints and chalk. 



2nd, (at b) Dark clayey rubble with flints. 



3rd, (at c) Decayed peat with moss and shells. 



4th, (at d) Light chalky rubble, forming the general mass of 

 the hill. 



Nor is this all which the tunnel has revealed, for it exposed the 

 undisturbed surface, just as it existed before the vast superincum- 

 bent mass was placed upon it, showing throughout its entire length, 



1st, (at e) The ancient original turf. 



2nd, (at /) The original soil (viz : clay with flints). 



3rd, (at g) The original chalk undisturbed. 



1 " On Tuesday the 10th July the excavation of the gallery was commenced : 

 from this time gangs of workmen succeeded each other at stated intervals, so 

 that the work proceeded day and night without interruption. By Friday 

 evening the 13th, the tunnel had extended to 94 feet from the entrance, 

 about one-third of the whole intended length, by which it was calculated the 

 centre of the hill would be attained. The work thus far was carried through 

 the natural soil, a vein of hard undisturbed chalk, and proceeded in an upward 

 direction, at an inclination 'of 1 in 28 : the artificial soil was cut into at 33 yards 

 from the entrance : the work was then carried on through 18 inches of the arti- 

 ficial earth and 5 feet of the original soil, presuming that by this means any 

 sepulchral remains must be discovered if they existed. The excavation was 

 carried in this way 54 yards, at which distance, according to the survey made, 

 the original centre of construction, or true centre of the hill would be attained." 

 [Examination of Silbury, in Salisbury Yolume, p. 300.] 

 2 Archaeological Journal, vi., 307. 



3 " The turf was quite black, as was also the undecayed moss and grass which 

 formed the surface of each layer, and amongst it were the dead shells, &c, such 

 as may still be found in the adjoining country." [Salisbury Yolume of the 

 Archaeological Institute, p. 301.] 



4 Illustrations 2 and 3 are copied from the Salisbury Yolume of the Archaeo- 

 logical Institute. 



o2 



