COLE : NOTE ON THE VALLUM IN RELATION TO ROMAN AVALL. 283 
from the south, and the entrenchments were evidently thrown up 
rather witli a view to meet assault from the north ; but only at this 
locality ; several sections taken elsewhere show no preference for 
either south or north. The general idea is shown in the following 
woodcut : — 
5£CTIorf AT eiRP05V/ALD 
SECTJOM AT WALLBoyVER?- ^ 
o »c 2C 3o. ^ 60 feet 
I I 
As originally constructed, the earthworks exhibit a central fosse, 
followed on either side by a level platform (which is not 
found in British entrenchments) and enclosed by an agger. Of 
course this plan has been greatly altered in the lapse of centuries, 
partly by natural causes, partly by artificial ones, such as the 
plough, the construction of the modern military road, and quarries. 
At one point, about half-way between JEfiica (Great Chesters) and 
]Magna (Carvoran), we noticed a complete obliteration of the Vallum 
along the line of some ancient quarries of sandstone, which gave 
us the impression that the Romans had at this point utilized the 
sandstone for building the Wall, and disregarded the destruction of 
the Vallum, which, if correct, undoubtedly suggests that the Vallum 
was older than the Wall, and was no longer considered of vital 
importance. Still, the Vallum might have been Roman work, and 
probably was, jjace Professor Hughes. The platforms on either side 
of the central fosse are utterly unlike any British entrenchments 
which exist on the Yorkshire Wolds, and my humble opinion is that 
(1) the Vallum is a Roman work, not British, and (2) constructed 
at an earlier date than the Wall, but with a somewhat similar 
design of forming a barrier against attack from south or north, and 
of offering a ready communication between a line of military posts. 
