Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/533

 ANCIENT EARTHWORKS The hill-top camps or earthworks of Sussex, which form a well- marked and interesting feature in the prehistoric archaeology of the county, have been investigated by General Pitt-Rivers, and a memoir on the subject was read before the Society of Antiquaries of London* in 1868. The following camps are essentially hill-top earthworks of the South Downs, commencing in the eastern part of Sussex. Beltout. — This is an extensive work enclosing the highest part of a prominent hill close to the sea-shore and a little to the west of the new lighthouse at Beachy Head. In its present condition a space of about two-fifths of its circumference consists, not of rampart and ditch, but of dangerously steep sea-cliff, and the destruction of cliff and alteration of sea-coast at this point are proceeding at a rapid rate. The cliff, indeed, is practically perpendicular, and frequent falls of chalk testify to the rapidity with which the coast is being cut into by the action of the sea. The question whether this earthwork was ever continuous round the top of the hill, enclosing the whole of the upper part of it, in the same way as Ditchling and Hollingbury, for example, is very difficult to settle. Judging from its present form, and the remains of the hill which the waves have spared, it seems not improbable that the ramparts may have extended originally entirely round the hill; but rapid as the waste of the chalk cliffs at this point is, the camp when first constructed can hardly have been far from the sea-shore, and it is by no means improbable that the steep, sheer cliffs may have furnished sufficient protection on one side, without requiring any special earthen defence of an artificial character. The great extent of the present works and the large area they enclose also point to such a possibility ; yet the irregular and somewhat elongated shape offer almost equally clear evidence that a considerable part of the camp has been destroyed by the sea. Allowing for only a moderate amount of waste, it is clear that Beltout must have been a very large and important work. It lies on a hill somewhat less than 300 ft. above the sea, and effectively overlooks the surrounding country. Its site, indeed, suggests that it was a valuable strategic point in the Beachy Head district. There is one weak point, however, which would be very serious from military point of view : there is no natural water supply. The obvious inference is that abundant as are neolithic implements in the neighbourhood, Beltout was only used as a temporary camp of refuge for families and cattle during periods of danger from marauding tribes. It is impossible to avoid being struck by the fact that this eminence would be well adapted for such a purpose. The ramparts are slight, and were probably supplemented by palisading. As will be seen by the plan, there is a ditch, or fosse, on the outside, from which has been obtained the material for the con- struction of the rampart. Flint flakes, etc., are very abundant. ' Arch. xlii.