Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (6.1890-1897 (1897))

EXCAVATIONS AT SPARTA.

211

ported upon a foundation built of rough stones piled upon
one another (see section). This foundation is at least a metre
in vertical thickness at z, where a trench was dug to examine
it. The character of the upper courses of the breccia wall is
unknown as none of them are preserved. The original height
of the wall can scarcely have been two metres greater than
that now preserved, as the upper face of stone /(Fig. 2) is

less than two metres below the level of the basis Tc 7t, above
which the original upper surface of the mound cannot have
extended.

The rough inner retainiug-wall is preserved for a length of
about 68 m. measuring along the circuit from the western
corner. The height of the preserved part varies from .50 m.
to 2 m. above the top step of the basement. The uppermost
step of the basement is preserved for a length of 56.65 m.,
and the lower steps for about the same distance with the
exception of a few metres near z, where several blocks have
fallen out of position. Of the lower course of ortJwslatai ten
blocks are preserved in situ, two near the western corner
(aggregating 5.90 m. in length) and eight east of the point z.

Sect") on ft; Tougty X.Y \

Fig. 2.