150 



Silbury. 



top, which aro so easily measured, and especially in the latter case, 

 which requires no calculation, and where the line extends from one 

 side to another, one would imagine that with ordinary care no 

 discrepancies could exist, and yet it will be seen by the table that 

 the measurements here vary quite as much as elsewhere. And 

 with regard to the angle of elevation which Stukeley boldly affirms 

 to be 40 0 , 1 I would again observe, that in this the eye greatly 

 deceives us, leaving us under the impression that the sloping side 

 is far steeper than it really is, and while I confess that on paper 

 our hill does look very depressed, and very easy of ascent, I would 

 deprecate the criticism of the casual observer, and beg him before 

 he condemns my figures, to give them the only fair trial of their 

 accuracy, viz : a personal examination. 



So much then for its dimensions, though I may add that the 

 ground covered by this gigantic tumulus has been variously esti- 

 mated at from five to six acres. 2 According to my measurements, 

 the area of the base would be 5 acres and 1192 yards, and its 

 cubical contents 468, 170 cubic yards. 



And now I think I may assert without fear of contradiction 

 that Silbury was a work of enormous labour, and at the early 

 period of its formation must have taxed the sinews as well as the 

 patience of a vast multitude ; and though in this advanced age, 

 and in our superior wisdom, we are (I think) somewhat inclined to 

 underrate the powers of our rude forefathers in a remote period, 

 and decry their skill, (though surely in Wiltshire at least Stone- 

 henge and Avebury and Silbury stand before us to rebuke our 

 self conceit, and arrest our supercilious contempt for bygone ages) 

 yet without arrogating to barbarous times the skill of modern 

 engineers, and the appliances of modern science, we may rest 



1 1 must add that Dr. Stukeley, though, an accomplished scholar, was by no 

 means accurate in his figures and plans. 



2 Sir Richard Hoare says 5| acres: (Anc: Wilts, ii., 82). Rickman only 4£ 

 acres: (Archseologia, vol. xxviii., 402). Stukeley adds "the solid contents of 

 it amount to 13, 558, 809 cubic feet: some people have thought it would cost 

 £20,000 to make such a hill." [Abury described p. 43,] and Aubrey says, " I 

 remember that Sir Jonas Moor, Surveyor of the Ordnance, told me it would 

 cost threescore, or rather (I think), fourscore thousand pounds to make suoh a 

 hill now." 



