Page:VCH Derbyshire 1.djvu/453

 ANCIENT EARTHWORKS Those only who have attempted to classify or group ancient earth- works can form any idea of the difficulties and uncertainties by which the whole subject is surrounded. 1 It has, therefore, been thought well in dealing with those of Derbyshire to follow, as closely as possible, the scheme adopted by the Congress of Archaeological Societies in 1903, on the recommendation of a competent committee. In two particulars, however, the present account of the various forms of ancient earthworks within the limits of this county is more comprehensive than the scheme of 1903, wherein it was recommended that 'boundary banks ' or prolonged intrenchments, as well as ' stone circles ' and ' burial barrows,' should be omitted from the proposed schedules. It is felt that in such a section as this mention must be made of that long strip of defensive earthwork known as Grey Ditch. The chief features of the Derbyshire barrows have been already adequately discussed by Mr. Ward, under 'Early Man," but as the burial mounds of Derbyshire are of such unusual frequency and importance in the north of the county, it is thought better to conclude this article with a list of all such tumuli, or their sites, as have been distinguished by the Ordnance surveyors. The scheme of 1903 recommended the classification of defensive earthworks under the following heads : A. Fortresses partly inaccessible, by reason of precipices, cliffs, or water, additionally defended by artificial banks or walls. B. Fortresses on hill-tops with artificial defences, following the natural line of the hill. C. Rectangular or other simple enclosures, including forts and towns of the Romano-British period. D. Forts consisting only of a mount with encircling ditch or fosse. E. Fortified mounts, either artificial or partly natural, with traces of an attached court or bailey, or of two or more such courts. F. Homestead moats, such as abound in some lowland districts, consisting of simple enclosures formed into artificial islands by water moats. In considering these divisions seriatim, it will be found that Derby- shire has remains of forts of considerable moment under sections A and B, 1 1 desire to acknowledge the particular help of Mr. W. J. Andrew, F.S.A., in the correction and extension of this paper. The Hon. F. Strutt kindly pointed out to me certain previous omissions. Mr. P. H. Currey was good enough to supply a plan and section of Morley Moor mount at very short notice. Mr. Mallalieu has also been of much service. 8 ' Stone circles ' are also treated by Mr. Ward, but in many if not most cases such circles were placed on earth ramparts ; hence some of those that probably once carried stones and now are mere earth circles are here named. 357