Profile across the northern limb of the Zig Zag 20m from its join with the southern limb. Circles represent flints close to the surface.
In the report on this Zig Zag in Ref 1 it was described as "a prominent Agger terrace with a hollow way worn in its western edge". Its position is shown in
http://www.nehhas.org.uk/rd11-12.htm.
There have been regular visits to this Zig Zag for diggers at the excavations on the western edge of Chawton Park Wood, and on a recent visit Stuart Bloom suggested that the hollow way looked too regular all along the northern limb - and looked more like a double terrace.
Profile across the northern limb of the Zig Zag 20m from its join with the southern limb. Circles represent flints close to the surface.
The lower terrace may have a slight hollow way in it as it slopes down to the SSE. The upper terrace may be in near perfect condition with a slight original camber. An up hill ditch shows on the profile. The widths of the terraces are a little short of 3m - but this equates to 10 Roman feet - which is the same widths found in the double terraces near Farnham on this Road, Ref 2. Here there is a discussion of the theory of double and triple Roman Road terraces, and another site on this Road at Holt Pound. Indeed Ref 1 gives a site 2 miles to the east of double and triple terraces. Recently we have found that much of the Chichester Roman Road is probably of double terraces (Ref 3).
The southern limb of the Zig Zag only exists for up to the 10 Roman feet width before it is overlaid by a modern terrace for the track there, so we do not know its complete construction details. Richard Whaley
REFERENCES
1. Richard Whaley NEHHAS NL 93 Autumn 2004; Jn 3 No. 11 2012
2. Richard Whaley, NEHHAS FAB e NEWS 2 Winter 2010 - 11
http://www.nehhas.org.uk/uf09-10.htm
3. NEHHAS FAB e News No. 4 Spring 2012
http://www.nehhas.org.uk/rr12-3.htm