NO. 5 ENCLOSURE
This enclosure is immediately inside the West Entrance to the temple, the western and south-western main wall forming its boundary on those sides from (735 ft.) to (760 ft.) on the north side of the entrance, and from (0 ft.) to (100 ft.) on the south side of the entrance, thus making its length on the side of the main wall to be 130 ft.
The area was once subdivided, but at present it is difficult to say exactly where the sub-divisional walls ran, though the faint traces of these are to be seen in several directions, but all appear to radiate from the eastern side of the enclosure towards the inside face of the main wall.
The north side is 59 ft. long, the south wall of No. 4 Enclosure being its northern boundary. The face of this wall at its eastern extremity is well built, but the western portion of it is very poorly constructed. The probable cause of this difference in the building of the wall was explained in the description of No. 4 Enclosure, and also in the Preface.
The eastern side for 36 ft. in length from the north side is formed by a very well-built wall which forms the southern extremity of West Passage. This wall is now only 6 ft. in height, but the great amount of wall-débris lying at its bases suggests that it was once some 7 ft. higher. It is 6 ft. wide on its present summit. From this point to the southern end of the enclosure the rest of the eastern side is open space, with traces of substantial wall foundations all along this length. The total length of the eastern side of this enclosure is 93 ft.
The south side, which is 37 ft. long, is formed by faint traces of a wall which divides this area from No. 6 Enclosure, extending from the west outer side of No. 7 Enclosure to the main wall.
The width at the centre of this enclosure from east to west is 57 ft.
A flat granite monolith stands at 30 ft. north-east of the north buttress of the West Entrance with a flat face towards the west. It rises from the ground 6 ft. 9 in., is 3 ft. broad, narrowing to 1 ft. 10 in. at the top. It is 3 in. thick, and leans slightly towards the east. No artificial markings can be discovered on either of its faces.
A triangular-shaped granite beam stands 2 ft. 11 in. above the ground at 26 ft. north-east of the south buttress of the West Entrance. A fractured portion of the beam, until lately buried, lies near. This section is 8 ft. 2 in. long. Twelve years ago this beam was complete. It then had a tilt towards the north, and its base must be deep to have supported its heavy weight in a leaning position.
Other sections of fractured granite monoliths were buried at this spot; one set of sections exceed together 8 ft., without taking into consideration a section which is missing.
The latest floor of this enclosure is at least 2 ft. below the present surface, the soil on the top being vegetable mould thickly matted with roots of wild vines and other creepers. [In August, 1903, this top soil was removed from the whole area. Several pieces of beaten gold and some Arabian glass were found lying on the hard soil underneath it.]