120
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
seemed to me best to continue this consecutive numbering,
so that our first trench is numbered VI.
Several springs are thrown out within the enclosure of the
Camp, and it appeared probable that evidences of ancient occupa-
tion should be found near these springs, if anywhere. We
therefore cut trenches VI., VII., X., and XVII. from the drier
slopes down into the bog or marsh made by the springs, but
without finding any suggestion of occupation. In the marsh we
found silt to a depth of three feet, but were unable to penetrate
it owing to the water-level.
I still think that further digging in this marsh area is justi-
fiable, but it would be essential to start by deepening the bed
of the stream which leads away from the marsh, in order to lower
the water-level, unless some method of pumping were adopted,
for which we were not prepared.
We dug out a hut-circle (XI.) but without finding anything
but a hearth of burnt flints on the eastern side. It may be that
this represents the hut of a charcoal burner or woodman of more
modern date than the camp ; there are several charcoal plat-
forms in and near the camp.
We found only two pieces of pottery. One of the coarse
flinty type from the bleached sand (to be described later) in area
XXII. ; the other, from the bleached sand of area III., fitted
on to several of the pieces found in 1882, thus enabling a reliable
restoration of the complete vessel to be made. We have also
re-fitted several other pieces found during the previous excava-
tions both here and at Ambresbury Banks.
"THE RELIC BED."
To avoid disappointment one must say at the outset that
although I have called this the "Relic-bed" for the convenience
of giving it a name, the flint work it contains is not rich in
quantity. But as contrasted with other parts of the camp
that we have trenched, it is comparatively a relic bed. If my
view be right that the camp was never quite completed that
would account for its poverty in relics.
The "Relic-bed" was first seen in trench XVI., but no
special significance was attached to it until a somewhat richer
part was struck in trench XVIII. Its examination was then
continued in areas XIX. to XXIII., all in the southern part