BUTTRESS PASSAGE
This passage runs north and south for 39 ft. between two gigantic cliff-boulders on the summit of the hill. This passage connected the enclosures on the north and south sides of the cliff. The rocks on either side of the passage at its bottom and south end are 50 ft. high on the east side, and 35 ft. high on the west side, and at the upper or north end are from 15 ft. to 20 ft. high. The path ascends throughout its length, and its upper end is 14 ft. above the lower end. The width between the rocks varies from 4 ft. to 6 ft., but the top exit of the path goes between rocks only 3 ft. apart.
The floor between the two cliffs is artificially made, and near the summit it has crowned in, and this crowning-in now bars the ascent to the Cleft Rock Enclosure, to which it formed an entrance from the south.
The passage has been considerably narrowed by buttresses alternating on either side, these making the passage a true zigzag. The first buttress at the south end and on the west side is much reduced in height, being now but 1 ft. 6 in. This buttress is angular, and protrudes 2 ft. On the east side is a long rounded buttress, which leaves the passage 2 ft. wide between it and the first buttress. This second buttress is 4 ft. high, 7 ft. long, and protrudes 4 ft., the width of the passage between it and the opposite cliff being 1 ft. 3 in. The third buttress is 17 ft. from the south end of the passage; it is angular, and projects from the west side 2 ft., and is now only 2 ft. 6 in. high. The fourth buttress is angular on the bottom side and rounded on the top side. This projects 3 ft. 6 in. from the west side, and is 5 ft. high. Between the third and fourth buttresses the passage is 2 ft. wide. Above the fourth buttress the floor has crowned in, and on the upper side of the crowning-in is a wall 5 ft. high built across the passage. Judging by block débris, this wall, the summit of which is level with the floor of the Cleft Rock Enclosure, was once surmounted by steps.