Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/25

Rh banks of the river Lippe, must have been the scene of many bloody battles in their long wars with the Sicambri, Marsi, Angrivarii, Cherusci, Bructeri, &c. The principal feats of the Sicambri were in and round the Teutoburgian forest, which extended from Billefeldt and Dethmold, on the North, through the whole principality of Paderborn, towards the South, as far as Stadberg on the Dymel (ol. Eresbergum), famous for the temple of the Saxon god Irmensul, destroyed by Charlemagne. It is a semi-circular chain of mountains of considerable height, now for the most part bare, but formerly covered with wood, as its ancient name of Saltus Teutoburgiensis indicates, and as the description of it by Tacitus clearly proves.

But to return to the pretended camp near Dorsten: contiguous to it, on the North side, where the appearance of a Vallum is seen, there is another oblong square, lesser than the preceding one, being a plain slightly inclining to the North towards the river Lippe. It has more the appearance of having been a camp than the other, as the ground on the West, North, and East, of it has been distinctly dug from it to the adjoining declivity; which on the North and West sides is considerably steep. On this last side, and close to it, is a deep gully, rendered impassible by springs and boggy ground.

This last extent of ground is covered with the same sort of heath and pebbles as the former, but is destitute of all appearance of barrows, unless an annular ridge or bourlet in the North East corner, and a small square ridge near it, be the remains of such. The ground without that corner is likewise boggy. Close to this North side, the declivity becomes considerable, and the ground is cultivated down to the Lippe, except here and there a small wood or clump of trees, intermixed with very tall broom.

The annexed sketch (Pl. I.) may serve to give a slight idea of these grounds and tumuli; which also may be illustrated by the following remarks. Rh