Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/532

 A HISTORY OF SUSSEX Or, though usually on high ground, less dependent on natural slopes for protection. (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. (G) Enclosures, mostly rectangular, partaking of the form of F, but protected by stronger defensive works, ramparted and fossed, and in some instances provided with outworks. (H) Ancient village sites protected by walls, ramparts or fosses. (X) Defensive works which fall under none of these headings.' The above classification will be followed as closely as possible in the present article, but it will be necessary also for our purpose to deal briefly with sepulchral mounds, or barrows, and with other miscellaneous earthworks. Before proceeding to deal with the earthworks in detail, a word or two may be conveniently written here as to the ground plans which are used as illustrations. These are in nearly every case founded upon the ordnance survey maps, tracings from those of the scale of 25 inches to the mile having been checked by a personal examination of each work. The plans of the Sussex earthworks as given on the ordnance survey maps can only be considered approximately correct, certain features having received detailed attention and others very little notice. More- over, two very important points, viz. the contour of the surface of the interior of the camp, and the relation of the earthworks to the natural slopes in the vicinity, are not indicated. In the plans given in the present article an attempt has been made to remedy these deficiencies by means of sketch sections where necessary. It must be admitted that the officers responsible for the ordnance survey maps had no light task before them. Some of the camps have suffered considerably from weathering, the burrowings of rabbits, and accidental or intentional injury at the hand of man. In other cases considerable confusion has been caused by modifications and alterations of the earthworks at the hands of occupants at different periods. PROMONTORY AND HILL FORTRESSES [Classes A and B] The Sussex camps furnish examples of most of the classes just named. Those falling under classes A and B may, however, more conveniently be grouped together. 454