DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22272#0070
52
GLASGOW ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
scarp which is nearly level1 with the top of the scarp, the
mound extends northward with a slight convex curve for
about 25 feet virtually horizontal, then a steady fall begins of
about 6 feet in 25. There the natural level of the ground appears
to be reached. The total base breadth of the mound is thus fully
50 feet, and its breadth on its flattish top about 25. Its character,
shape, and appearance, especially as approached from the north
where it presents itself very prominently, leave no doubt that
it is to a very large extent artificially made up, and not a mere
natural ridge taken advantage of in the making of the line of
fortification. It is continuous, of the same shape, size and
character, as above described, for some distance each way;
indeed, the only break in the continuity of this general shape
for a long way westward is where its bulk is largely increased
by swelling to a height considerably over the normal level of its
upper surface. The mound is full of very large stones cropping
out here and there through the grassy covering.
In this (No. 2) section, when re-cut for the visit of the Royal
Archaeological Institute in August, 1891, a very interesting find
was made. It is an artificially rounded ball of greyish sandstone,
from 13| to 14J inches in circumference, and of diameter varying
accordingly. Its weight is 3-]- lbs. It is now in the possession
of Mr. Alexander Park at Croy House, and is, along with other
stones there, shown on the photographic block on p. 61.
About 69 feet west of this section is the centre line of a branch
railway, and 20 yards southward the recently cut side of the
railway shows a good section of the military way. It is about
18 feet broad, and has a bottom course or statumen of 15 rough
stones of the doleritic type abounding on the hill, usually about
a foot in length, and rather more than half as broad, whilst on
the top of these there lies a convex stratum of smaller and
broken stones, the larger of which are about 9 inches long, and
the smaller are merely good-sized pebbles. The kerbs are the
1 It may be stated once for all that the dimensions of the ditch and the outer
mound at Croy, and, in particular, the estimates of the slopes, are only
approximate. It is impossible to be exact, without full sections being made from
the vallum all the way through the fosse and the outer mounds. Some such
sections have been made elsewhere, but none on Croy, where the remains of the
work are not sufficiently entire to make full sections of high value.
GLASGOW ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
scarp which is nearly level1 with the top of the scarp, the
mound extends northward with a slight convex curve for
about 25 feet virtually horizontal, then a steady fall begins of
about 6 feet in 25. There the natural level of the ground appears
to be reached. The total base breadth of the mound is thus fully
50 feet, and its breadth on its flattish top about 25. Its character,
shape, and appearance, especially as approached from the north
where it presents itself very prominently, leave no doubt that
it is to a very large extent artificially made up, and not a mere
natural ridge taken advantage of in the making of the line of
fortification. It is continuous, of the same shape, size and
character, as above described, for some distance each way;
indeed, the only break in the continuity of this general shape
for a long way westward is where its bulk is largely increased
by swelling to a height considerably over the normal level of its
upper surface. The mound is full of very large stones cropping
out here and there through the grassy covering.
In this (No. 2) section, when re-cut for the visit of the Royal
Archaeological Institute in August, 1891, a very interesting find
was made. It is an artificially rounded ball of greyish sandstone,
from 13| to 14J inches in circumference, and of diameter varying
accordingly. Its weight is 3-]- lbs. It is now in the possession
of Mr. Alexander Park at Croy House, and is, along with other
stones there, shown on the photographic block on p. 61.
About 69 feet west of this section is the centre line of a branch
railway, and 20 yards southward the recently cut side of the
railway shows a good section of the military way. It is about
18 feet broad, and has a bottom course or statumen of 15 rough
stones of the doleritic type abounding on the hill, usually about
a foot in length, and rather more than half as broad, whilst on
the top of these there lies a convex stratum of smaller and
broken stones, the larger of which are about 9 inches long, and
the smaller are merely good-sized pebbles. The kerbs are the
1 It may be stated once for all that the dimensions of the ditch and the outer
mound at Croy, and, in particular, the estimates of the slopes, are only
approximate. It is impossible to be exact, without full sections being made from
the vallum all the way through the fosse and the outer mounds. Some such
sections have been made elsewhere, but none on Croy, where the remains of the
work are not sufficiently entire to make full sections of high value.