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Danes' Dike.

BY THE REV. E. MAULE COLE, M.A., F.G.S.

HIS remarkable entrenchment, thrown up by a race which has long since passed away, but whose records are still preserved in the vast number of tumuli and entrenchments scattered over the Yorkshire Wolds, extends from sea to sea across the precipitous promontory which forms the northern shore of Bridlington Bay.

Its length is about two miles and a half, cutting off a triangular-shaped area of high ground, whose apex terminates near the modern lighthouse at Flamborough, at a distance of three miles. Throughout its southern extension the Dike follows the eastern bank of a deep ravine, hollowed out by a stream descending in an ancient valley from the neighbourhood of Bempton. The valley itself is pre-glacial. During the ice age it was filled up with boulder-clay and drift, which in turn has been re-excavated in more recent times. In this part of its course, therefore, the great strength of the entrenchment as a means of defence against attack from the west is derived from natural features. It is otherwise as regards its northern half. Here the ground was comparatively level to begin with, and therefore a vast ditch was excavated, some sixty feet wide and twenty feet deep in places, the material being thrown up on the eastern side to constitute the rampart. As this latter rises from sixteen to eighteen feet above the natural surface of the ground, it is manifest that a steep embankment of at least thirtyfive feet in height would have to be surmounted before a successful assault could be delivered. Even with modern weapons it presents a most formidable obstacle

to attack, as was expressly stated by two officers of the Royal Artillery, who went over the ground with me a few years ago.

It may be noted here that the entrenchment is not absolutely continuous, that is to say, there are several openings in it, left purposely, in my opinion, for sortie. I am led to this conclusion from the fact that, in more than one instance where these occur, the mound curves alternately to the right and left, instead of being constructed in a straight line. A space was also left on the northern extremity between the entrenchment and the cliff top. In this, as in the central openings,

it resembles the famous and somewhat similar fortification at Burgh Head, near Forres, in Scotland, which has been assigned, by the late General Roy, to the work of the Romans, but which, I think, should be referred to an earlier date. Both cut off the extremity of a promontory bounded by precipitous and almost inaccessible cliffs, but in point of extent there is no comparison whatever. The Dike at Burgh Head is only 300 yards long, and encloses an area of less than ten acres, whereas Danes' Dike is twoand-a-half miles long, and encloses an area of over five square miles. The former might serve for a camp; the latter for the permanent settlement of a tribe.

Though this entrenchment far exceeds in magnitude all others of a like character on the Chalk Wolds, it is impossible to consider its probable date without taking into account the numerous earthworks which extend from Flamborough on the east to Acklam Brow on the west. This I have already done in papers published, with maps, in the "Proceedings of Yorkshire Geological Society," New Series, Vol. XI., Pt. 1, and in the Antiquary for October and November, 1890, and November, 1892. To those of you who are interested in the subject, I venture to suggest a careful perusal of these papers, and especially of the maps. All that I can do now is to

the

summarise the papers, and to state briefly the conclusions which I have arrived at, leaving it to future investigation to prove how far they are correct, or the

reverse.

(1.) There are two main entrenchments running north and south, viz., Danes' Dike, and, at a distance of six miles to the west, the Argam Dikes. Then there are four main entrenchments running east and west, from near the Argam Dikes to the western brow of the Wolds, all more or less connected, and so interlaced as to form, towards the west, a perfect network of fortifications.

Taking them in order, the northernmost line, A, skirts the northern brow of the Wolds, overlooking the Vale of Pickering, from Hunmanby to Knapton Brow, with a branch from Sherburn to Settrington Brow. To the south of these hills lies the great Wold Valley, as it is called, stretching from Wharramle-Street to Bridlington. To the south of this again is another range of high ground, on which are the three other lines of entrenchment, viz., B, overlooking the Wold Valley, and extending from Octon Grange to Burdale Tunnel Top and Aldro; C, starting from near Willy Howe, and running on the crest of the hills, by Cowlam and Sledmere, to Fimber, and thence to Garrowby Hill; and, lastly, D, overlooking Holderness from Kilham to the Monument, and passing by Wetwang and Huggate to the hills above Pocklington. (2.) There are several areas in connection with these entrenchments which exhibit remarkably strong positions, namely, Flamborough Head, on the extreme east; Settrington Brow, on the north; Fimber, in the centre; Aldro and Garrowby Hill, on the west; and Huggate Dikes, on the south-west. In fact it is not too much to say that the whole district under review from the coast to the western extremity of the Wolds was rendered almost impregnable by this vast system of earthworks.

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