DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22272#0099
THE ANTONINE WALL REPORT.
81
east of section No. 12, where a semi-circular expansion of the
south face of the vallum—the second of the kind on Croy Hill—
interrupts the uniformity of the symmetrical curve of the vallum.
It measures externally from the north kerb of the vallum to the
south limit of the expansion fully 60 feet, and from east to west
of the expansion about 50 feet. The sketch plan of these two
semi-circular expansions, as shown in the annexed cut, will best
explain their relative position and shape.
nniRiittiiMniiuuifiMiiwK
%,,J %»s#
Plan of the two southern expansions on Croy Hill.
The present section pierces both the vallum and the semi-circular
southern expansion. It was made specially in view of the visit
of the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland on
15th August, 1891, and is remarkable as distinctly stimulating
inquiry into the purpose and construction of these expansions,
which occur periodically, at no great distance from each other,
along the south face of the vallum. The account of the cutting
will describe first the vallum proper and then the expansion.
The vallum is here, on its south face, in excellent preservation,
as the expansion resting against it has preserved the face
surprisingly intact. On the north face, however, the vallum has
fallen away so much that the surface of soil over the north kerb
is only 9 inches above the kerb, whilst above the south kerb it
is 4 feet 6 inches. The vallum stands on the very turn of the
slope, for although, in front, the ground falls considerably in the
79 feet of berm between the north kerb and the rock face of
the scarp, the stone base of the vallum slopes the other way ; so
much so that the north kerb is 15 inches higher in level than the
south kerb. All the kerbs laid bare are of whinstone unsquared,
and the width between the faces is here 16 feet. The bottoming
of whinstone well packed is rather unusual, in extending
for about 4 feet inward from the north kerb. Along the
middle of the base, there is no systematically laid stone bottoming,
and the vallum rests seemingly on the natural surface of the
hill. But when the south kerb is approached, the whinstone
F
81
east of section No. 12, where a semi-circular expansion of the
south face of the vallum—the second of the kind on Croy Hill—
interrupts the uniformity of the symmetrical curve of the vallum.
It measures externally from the north kerb of the vallum to the
south limit of the expansion fully 60 feet, and from east to west
of the expansion about 50 feet. The sketch plan of these two
semi-circular expansions, as shown in the annexed cut, will best
explain their relative position and shape.
nniRiittiiMniiuuifiMiiwK
%,,J %»s#
Plan of the two southern expansions on Croy Hill.
The present section pierces both the vallum and the semi-circular
southern expansion. It was made specially in view of the visit
of the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland on
15th August, 1891, and is remarkable as distinctly stimulating
inquiry into the purpose and construction of these expansions,
which occur periodically, at no great distance from each other,
along the south face of the vallum. The account of the cutting
will describe first the vallum proper and then the expansion.
The vallum is here, on its south face, in excellent preservation,
as the expansion resting against it has preserved the face
surprisingly intact. On the north face, however, the vallum has
fallen away so much that the surface of soil over the north kerb
is only 9 inches above the kerb, whilst above the south kerb it
is 4 feet 6 inches. The vallum stands on the very turn of the
slope, for although, in front, the ground falls considerably in the
79 feet of berm between the north kerb and the rock face of
the scarp, the stone base of the vallum slopes the other way ; so
much so that the north kerb is 15 inches higher in level than the
south kerb. All the kerbs laid bare are of whinstone unsquared,
and the width between the faces is here 16 feet. The bottoming
of whinstone well packed is rather unusual, in extending
for about 4 feet inward from the north kerb. Along the
middle of the base, there is no systematically laid stone bottoming,
and the vallum rests seemingly on the natural surface of the
hill. But when the south kerb is approached, the whinstone
F