122 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
(fig. 1) in Area XVI. was particularly instructive in this
respect.
We must now consider whether the "Relic-bed" may be
merely silting washed down from the ramparts.
In the first place the relation of the "Relic-bed" to the
inner bank in Area XIX. is obviously against that view. Apart
from this, the great objection to this interpretation is that there
is too much of the "Relic-bed" in bulk, and it extends too far
from the foot of the ramparts on the up-hill slope of the ground,
to allow it to be explained as silting. Trench XXIV., although
on the down-hill slope of the ground, showed only a com-
paratively trivial amount of silting, which did not extend far
from the foot of the rampart, and there was no trace of anything
like the "Relic-bed."
A still further point against this view is the mode of occur-
rence of the flint industry, and the fact that the flakes are in
"mint" condition and have never been exposed to the atmos-
phere.
As we have said, the "Relic-bed" is Bagshot Sand, which
must have, been dug out of a pit, and is certainly not the mere
scraping together of the stony soil and sub-soil. This work
certainly was done, but why it should have been done is a
mystery for which I can suggest no explanation.
Within the camp there are two larger sand-pits which are
at least of some antiquity, as they are considerably overgrown
and weathered. I have always assumed that these sand-pits
were far more recent than the Camp, although the previous
Report suggested that they might be contemporary, and the
trench cut in one of them yielded a black flint flake. It is never
safe to draw conclusions before the evidences have been ascer-
tained, and in view of the mystery of the "Relic-bed" I think
the next stage of enquiry might well be directed to these pits.
THE RAMPARTS.
We cut into the ramparts to a greater or lesser degree in
Areas XVI., XXII., XXIII., XXIV., extended on either side
of the old trench III., and dug out some of the inner bank in
Area XIX. In every case the main body of the bank was com-
posed of yellow, loamy sand, with an irregular but persistent
layer of white bleached sand in the lower part. This bleached