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Worms — Abinger

1877 Aug. 22d (next day)

Many worms came out during night from bottom of trench outside wall which was 43 beneath level of field. I found 3 or 4 holes going right under foundation of old wall — See diagram. A worm found at 48 1/2 inch beneath surface. A worm hole at 51 1.2 — another hole 57 1/2 — another hole lined with black mould at 65 1/2 — This was a small hole, beneath this though careful search was made no holes nor worms were found. The hole was rare beneath 43 inches. (I found a so called nest lined with little pebbles about as large as mustard seed, with decayed oat, at the depth of 36 inches. I found another nest of same character (but no oat), lined with little pebbles at about same depth of 41 inches.) So some mortar beside the lining brought down.)

The Oat-field slopes at about angle of 7° towards the ruins. The tesselated pavement much narrower, some parts pavement that is at all probable when first made in 1 part sloped at 1° down to border of tessellation in one part slope at 8° 30'

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Area of one room (with small adjoining one) as few are yet exposed 14 by 9 feet.—

In one spot summit of wall was only 6 inches beneath the surface of field, but the farmer who cultivated the land said they did not plough more than 4 inches in depth

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The tesselated floor on a whole level, with some slight inequalities. — There is not the slightest trace of a break when the concrete on which the tesselated pavement was embedded joins the walls on 2 sides of the room. The wall wd subside slower owing to the foundation going to great depth, where the pavement & concrete, wd resist until much decayed worms bringing up earth. —

Upon the whole I incline to think pavement & summit of broken walls were covered up by worm-earth with extreme slowness to that depth, over which a plough cd pass, & that stones & rubbish occasionally fall (some brought with no change) & some fine earth washed down from higher part of field. I do not see how we can avoid this conclusion seeing the number of living worms & fresh holes at above 40 inches beneath the surface. If the holes did not slowly & ultimately collapse the whole earth in 15 centuries wd have

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been riddled like a sponge, & this was not the case; & we must remember that the earth from each burrow is brought to the surface; & when this part is washed away & travels down the gentle slope of field during heavy rains.