ANCIENT EARTHWORKS for temporary occupation in dangerous times, and not for permanent residence. The precipitous walls of the limestone cliffs on the north and south sides have in certain places (particularly in the Markland Grips) become somewhat less steep, from the sloping accumulation, at the base of the debris, of falling soil and stone and timber ; but their average height originally could not have been less than 30 feet. In one place, on the south side, marked A on the plan, there was evidently some early decay or fault in the rocky contour, with the result that it caused a steep shelving slope, of a few yards in width, instead of a precipitous edge. Above this, it is interesting to note, a considerable rampart of big stones was piled up, out of which a fair-sized tree is now growing. The war entrance to the camp was undoubtedly at the north-west angle, where the traces of an old narrow path, winding up the face of the rock in a kind of recess, and completely commanded on each side by the projecting cliffs, can be clearly seen. This is marked B on the plan, whilst the corresponding steep pathway going up the opposite side of Hollinhill Grips, a little more to the east, is marked C. If the garrison were sufficient in number, such a place as this would be almost impregnable, and would in reality be more difficult to take than the wilder-situated forts on the bleak heights of the Peak. In this case, the attacking force, unless assaulting the triple rampart of the base, would have to descend steep cliffs into the grips, within stone-throw of the defenders, before they could make any attempt to scale or even approach the actual walls or cliffs of the fort ; whilst the narrowed extremity, where the grips meet, was probably also protected, then as now, by an artificial depth of water, to accomplish which only the most elementary notion of engineering would be requisite. No kind of excavation or systematic exploration of this camp has ever, to our knowledge, been made. A few artificial flint flakes were picked up on the top and sides of the ramparts in January 1905. Two local labourers testified to the fact that when the Teversall line of railway cleared away the south end of the ramparts there were many such flints lying about, ' several shaped and pointed, but nobody thought of pick- ing them up.' HILL FORTS [CLASS B] I. MAM TOR (ix. 8), the well-known great hill towering above Castle- ton and Edale to a height of 1,700 feet above the sea level, has its summit crowned with a remarkable and comprehensive earthwork, embracing an area of about sixteen acres, within a rampart that had a circumference, when perfect, of 1,200 yards. 1 The almost precipitous sides of the 1 Mam Tor was described and a plan given (showing it more perfect than now) in Bray's Tour, pp. 202-4, published in 1783. Mr. Andrew thinks that this rampart was never 'perfect,' as it was not required up the precipices which must have existed at the time of its construction, though in a somewhat lesser degree. He believes that the process of disintegration began in the ice age, long before the fort was made. Had not the precipices been there, a better site than Mam Tor could have readily been found, to wit the adjoining Lose Hill ; but the precipices were space gained without necessitating the employment of a single man to guard them. 367
