The highest point of the site within this area is east, where the ground rises to 1,591 ft. above sea-level, and falls somewhat abruptly to a lower terrace, and then slopes gradually to the western limit of the inner wall. This highest point is of cairn-like appearance, but we believe it to be mainly natural. The extreme summit is evidently artificial.

The cytiau are situated in groups on the terrace and on the slope, and also under the inner face of the walls. In the latter case each hut has a wall built against the rampart with, in some instances, a narrow intervening space. The forms and sizes of the huts are varied. Some are circular or pear-shaped, and others again oblong and rectangular. When in clusters the outer curve of the innermost hut influenced the form of that adjoining. In a few instances the doors of the cytiau appear out of a small space or hall, entered through a common doorway. The entrances face various points of the

compass.

to

open

Occasionally the huts are double, one chamber leading into another. In a few instances an outer curved wall protected the entrance. The entrances varied in width from a little over 2 ft. to 4 ft. The walls of the huts, which are very rudely built, are usually 4 ft. wide, and vary in height from 3 ft. to 6 ft.

As an example of the rude building, both of the inner defending wall and of a hut contiguous to it, viz., No. 29, we found on sheltering in this during a northerly gale, that the wind penetrated the combined walls of some 15 ft. in an unpleasant manner, and compelled us to seek a less draughty retreat.

The subsoil of the site is a mild clay, and resting on this is a crust of peaty earth of varying depth, carrying on its surface a luxuriant growth of heather and whinberry plants. This peaty earth carries a certain amount of water, which it retains, and in this it is assisted by the clay subsoil. This renders the hut sites damp, for wherever a hole is sunk into the subsoil, water accumulates in small quantities. To minimise this dis

advantage, the builders of the huts excavated the greater portion of the interior, down to and into the subsoil, and then filled the pit with rubble, and roughly paved with flat stones. Suitable paving-stones were plentiful, for the rock of Tre'r Ceiri breaks into flat slabs, which, though sometimes angular and sometimes curved, may be laid as a floor with tolerable effect.

Another peculiarity of the stone is that, in breaking, shallow basins are often formed on one of the flat surfaces; but, as far as we could ascertain, this peculiarity was not taken advantage of by the occupants of Tre'r Ceiri. Sometimes the excavated portion of the hut was filled with flat stones placed vertically, and in one case (No. 9), regularly-built drain-like cavities acted as catch-pits under the paved floor. There was no drain to carry the accumulated water out of this hut. So long as the floor was raised sufficiently above the drainage water level, the occupants must have been satisfied. These roughly-paved floors were laid in level with the foundations of the walls of the huts, and were covered with a thin layer of peaty earth. On this was débris from the walls.

The roofs of the huts were probably of thatch, made with rushes or heather; they were certainly not of stone, for the accumulations of this material in the interiors represented wall ruin only.

The shape of the greater portion of the huts would have made a stone roof impossible. The paved floors, resting on rubble, were doubtless good for the people who occupied the huts, but they were uncommonly poor retainers of ill-considered or broken domestic objects. The finds were consequently few; but, if not numerous, they are of great interest and importance.

Where practicable all the huts examined were explored right down to the subsoil, so as to make sure that domestic objects had not found their way between the rude paving-stones, down to and beyond the stone

packing. It was not practicable to do this in all cases, owing to the ruined condition of the walls. This would have been increased if digging had been carried on near the ruined portions. Much of this wall ruin was due to excavations which were made in the huts some fifty years ago, by people of the neighbourhood. An old woman of Llithfain dreamt that a copper cauldron full of gold was buried in Tre'r Ceiri. This unfortunate dream did more harm to the cytiau of Tre'r Ceiri than many centuries of natural causes of decay.

The only water procurable within the walls of the fortress is that already alluded to. This would give but a meagre supply, quite inadequate for the needs of any considerable number of men and animals. There is a small supply a few hundred yards north of the outer north-west entrance, and two smaller trickles of water to the south-west and south; the latter almost at the foot of the mountain. If these meagre supplies were seized and held by a hostile force, the supply of surface water within the fortress would soon be exhausted, and the occupants reduced to submission. It is doubtful whether investments were practicable in early warfare, for the attacking force could hardly exist long in a country which had previously been swept of its food.

Tre'r Ceiri was a strong refuge, into which the inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood could retire with their flocks and herds and household belongings, and there remain until the temporary danger had passed. In this respect it is similar to the other hill-forts and camps with which we are familiar.

The actual digging commenced on June 30th. The details are as follows:

1. A long ruined hut, close to inner rampart north-west. A little charcoal only was found.

2. Two-and-a-half feet below the surface came on clay subsoil. Water oozed into the excavation from all sides. No sign of human occupancy. Entrance faces east.

3. Entrance from No. 4 only, 2 ft. wide. No hearth seen, nor any charcoal, but about a dozen pieces of dark pottery were found. Also, some pebbles and a small fragment of pointed iron. Height of wall, 4 ft.

4. A long hut against inner south-west wall, with a hearth

composed of two flat stones. This hut yielded much charcoal, two spindle-whorls, one broken, and pebbles both large and small. Both these communicating huts are in a hollow, and the present walls are flush with surface level. Entrance faces north-west and is curved; 2 ft. 2 ins. wide. Height of wall 6 ft. (See Fig. 1.)

5. Yielded a spindle-whorl, pieces of ox teeth, and some charcoal. Entrance faces west, and is 4 ft. wide; has two protecting horns of walling, 13 ft. long. (See Fig. 2.)

(See Fig. 4.)

6. Here a combined adze and hammer, of much-corroded iron, was found a little above the true floor of the hut. Also on the floor a part of an iron blade; some small fragments of bone and ox teeth. Entrance faces west, 3 ft. wide. This has a shelter wall 10 ft. long, trending north.

ruined.

Walls very