Fourth Report on the Excavations at Stonehenge

Extract

At the time when I presented my last report the excavation of the ditch had nearly reached a point where the avenue approaches it. In anticipation of our arrival at this position the top of the counterscarp had been laid bare for —a width of 2 ft. in order that a good view of the avenue end, both in plan and section, might be obtained. The details shown were, however, disappointing, for when the south-east trench of the avenue appeared it presented an insignificant-looking, angular section in the bank about 18 in. deep and 3 ft. wide in top measurement, the apex of the angle cutting a groove in the solid chalk below. Where the extremity of the groove approached the ditch it ended at 8 in. from the side, leaving a ridge of undisturbed chalk, and indicating that the ditch was of earlier construction. The contents of the ditch showed that there had been no attempt to carry the avenue across it, nor was there any sign of it on the opposite side. The avenue bank was barely discernible and it is rather doubtful if it came quite to the edge of the ditch. It gave the impression that when making it the builders allowed their work to fade out as they approached the edge. The ditch continued an unaltered course independently of the proximity of the avenue.