3
purposes. In shape, it was roughly square, with a smaller square at the
north-west corner. The whole was surrounded by a very distinct ditch,
having a bank on its inner scarp, and the whole of the surface within the
bank was crossed by narrow stetches—a recognised sign of early
cultivation On cutting a section right across the mound from east to
west and digging holes and trenches at various other parts, the southern
portion was found to consist of the usual red earth, but the northern part
proved to be of ordinary marsh mud. In the red earth were found
objects which seem to be common to all Red-hills—namely, many
fragments of exceedingly rude red pottery, a few "wedges" and
"T-pieces" of burnt red ware, and some portions of hard vitrified slag—
together with some animal bones and a few small fragments of a dark-
coloured domestic ware of early date.
The second mound examined lay at a rather higher level—just on the
line at which the marsh ceases and firm rising ground begins. The
objects found in it differed somewhat from those found in the other
mounds examined. In addition to the usual fragments of red pottery
(described above), there were discovered in its lower strata exceptionally
large quantities of slag, animal bones (including portions of red-deer
antlers), and fragments of the dark domestic ware noticed above—the
latter including the greater portion of a large and highly-decorated bowl,
which appears to be of the Late Celtic period.
The third hill was of a slightly different type again, standing boldly
above the level of the marsh, unlike the other two. Unfortunately a
large portion of its soil had been removed for agricultural purposes, but
the fact that it had once been surrounded by a fosse or ditch was clearly
obvious. The usual objects were found in it.
In addition to the systematic work done with pick and shovel in the
examination of these three hills, other hills in their immediate vicinity
were examined more cursorily. In these, also, numerous objects were
found.
In the case of all these hills, many careful measurements, sections,
and levels were taken, and other observations were made. These will
prove, it is believed, of much value when other Red-hills have been
examined and the time has come for your Committee to issue its final
report. The various objects found were packed in cases and removed to