DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22272#0117
the antonine wall report.
99
Seabeg.—Section No. 2. PLATE III.
[Section of vallum, fosse, and outer mound.]
This section is 145 yards east of the stone dyke forming the
western boundary of Seabegs Wood, and it is 208 yards west of
section Seabeg No. 1. It is one of the most perfect sections of
the whole series, as at this point the Roman work has been
particularly well preserved. The present surface of the vallum
is 4 feet 6 inches above the stone base. The kerbs are of squared
freestone and the bottoming of rough freestone. The soil is
much the same as in last section—a light sandy earth with a few
small pebbly stones. There are a very few signs of the presence
of some of the whitish clayey substance. The layering here
answers also very closely to the description given in last section,
being very faint, and, indeed, requiring some search to find it.
There are four darkish lines visible—black at some points, but
generally a faint reddish brown. The following is the result of
the analysis of samples which were examined:—A thin black line,
8 inches up from the base, had 5-4 per cent, of vegetable matter;
the second, 13 inches up, had 5"1 per cent.; the third, 24 inches
up, had 4-5 per cent.; a red line forming the fourth had 3-9 per
cent. The lines are not protracted beyond the south kerb; but
the soil to the north, although it cannot be said to contain
protractions of the lines in the vallum, has a curious independent
diffused black line from 1 to 2 inches thick, starting about
6 inches above the level of the kerb, sloping downwards, and
terminating apparently near the limit of dJbris. Analysis of a
sample showed that it contained 5'9 per cent, of vegetable matter.
It deserves to be noted that, in the immediate vicinity, when a
sod is cut, it shows a mossy growth dark in colour, forming the
mould nearest to the surface, and contrasting with the reddish
soil below. The fosse here was filled up to some extent with
mossy gi'owth and debris. Scarp and counterscarp are of
reddish sandy soil like the vallum, but with larger stones and
without any signs of the whitish clayey substance. A con-
siderable body of moisture being held in the mossy growth in the
ditch, the water gathered fast when the bottom of the ditch was
99
Seabeg.—Section No. 2. PLATE III.
[Section of vallum, fosse, and outer mound.]
This section is 145 yards east of the stone dyke forming the
western boundary of Seabegs Wood, and it is 208 yards west of
section Seabeg No. 1. It is one of the most perfect sections of
the whole series, as at this point the Roman work has been
particularly well preserved. The present surface of the vallum
is 4 feet 6 inches above the stone base. The kerbs are of squared
freestone and the bottoming of rough freestone. The soil is
much the same as in last section—a light sandy earth with a few
small pebbly stones. There are a very few signs of the presence
of some of the whitish clayey substance. The layering here
answers also very closely to the description given in last section,
being very faint, and, indeed, requiring some search to find it.
There are four darkish lines visible—black at some points, but
generally a faint reddish brown. The following is the result of
the analysis of samples which were examined:—A thin black line,
8 inches up from the base, had 5-4 per cent, of vegetable matter;
the second, 13 inches up, had 5"1 per cent.; the third, 24 inches
up, had 4-5 per cent.; a red line forming the fourth had 3-9 per
cent. The lines are not protracted beyond the south kerb; but
the soil to the north, although it cannot be said to contain
protractions of the lines in the vallum, has a curious independent
diffused black line from 1 to 2 inches thick, starting about
6 inches above the level of the kerb, sloping downwards, and
terminating apparently near the limit of dJbris. Analysis of a
sample showed that it contained 5'9 per cent, of vegetable matter.
It deserves to be noted that, in the immediate vicinity, when a
sod is cut, it shows a mossy growth dark in colour, forming the
mould nearest to the surface, and contrasting with the reddish
soil below. The fosse here was filled up to some extent with
mossy gi'owth and debris. Scarp and counterscarp are of
reddish sandy soil like the vallum, but with larger stones and
without any signs of the whitish clayey substance. A con-
siderable body of moisture being held in the mossy growth in the
ditch, the water gathered fast when the bottom of the ditch was