DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22272#0071
the antonine wall report.
53
same kind of stone as the rest of the base—not squared.
Occasionally, the bottom stratum of large stones is double. No
traces of lime have been detected in the roadway. A strip of
earth and grass about 4 inches thick forms the present surface
of the ground covering the stones. It is perceptibly dark com-
pared with the adjacent reddish soil. The total thickness of the
stony strata forming the road is as follows:—
Average height of large bottom stratum (where as
normally it consists of a single row of
stones), - - - - - 9 inches.
Intermixed stone above forming the convex, - 1 foot,
in the centre, reduced sometimes to 9 inches, and sometimes to
less than 6 inches near the kerbs.
These observations are made on the section at the west bank
of the railway cutting, but the characteristics on the opposite or
eastern bank do not greatly differ, except that the convex there
is not quite so high. The general conditions are the same in
both cases.
Croy.—Section No. 3.
[Merely a cutting in search of the kerbs. Vallum as heretofore,
quite worn or levelled down.]
This cutting, 114 feet west of the centre line of the branch
railway, is a mere hole cut in the ground in search of the kerbs.
It can therefore yield few facts. The kerbs are of whinstone and
squared freestone, those on the north side being found at a depth
of 27 inches. The soil is a brown and reddish earth, with
signs of the marly substance, and patches of whitish sand through'
it. Some of the latter lies in a diffused state outside the north
kerb. The layering is evident enough, but the details are
indistinct. It seems to be protracted slightly, and with its
direction bent downwards over the north kerb, but this is by no
means clear. At this point the military way is 67 feet south of
the face of the south kerb.
From about this place, the ditch presents a very bold character.
At a point, 66 feet west of the section, there is a huge dolerite
block 7 feet by 7 feet by 10 feet, forming the face of the
counterscarp. The ditch there measures 40 feet across and 9 feet
53
same kind of stone as the rest of the base—not squared.
Occasionally, the bottom stratum of large stones is double. No
traces of lime have been detected in the roadway. A strip of
earth and grass about 4 inches thick forms the present surface
of the ground covering the stones. It is perceptibly dark com-
pared with the adjacent reddish soil. The total thickness of the
stony strata forming the road is as follows:—
Average height of large bottom stratum (where as
normally it consists of a single row of
stones), - - - - - 9 inches.
Intermixed stone above forming the convex, - 1 foot,
in the centre, reduced sometimes to 9 inches, and sometimes to
less than 6 inches near the kerbs.
These observations are made on the section at the west bank
of the railway cutting, but the characteristics on the opposite or
eastern bank do not greatly differ, except that the convex there
is not quite so high. The general conditions are the same in
both cases.
Croy.—Section No. 3.
[Merely a cutting in search of the kerbs. Vallum as heretofore,
quite worn or levelled down.]
This cutting, 114 feet west of the centre line of the branch
railway, is a mere hole cut in the ground in search of the kerbs.
It can therefore yield few facts. The kerbs are of whinstone and
squared freestone, those on the north side being found at a depth
of 27 inches. The soil is a brown and reddish earth, with
signs of the marly substance, and patches of whitish sand through'
it. Some of the latter lies in a diffused state outside the north
kerb. The layering is evident enough, but the details are
indistinct. It seems to be protracted slightly, and with its
direction bent downwards over the north kerb, but this is by no
means clear. At this point the military way is 67 feet south of
the face of the south kerb.
From about this place, the ditch presents a very bold character.
At a point, 66 feet west of the section, there is a huge dolerite
block 7 feet by 7 feet by 10 feet, forming the face of the
counterscarp. The ditch there measures 40 feet across and 9 feet