The summits of the main walls have been damaged at several points by past and present boughs overspreading the walls and beating them till several courses, the whole width of the walls, have disappeared, thus causing depressions in the top line of walls at several points. All branches, whether from trees within or without the temple, which overhang the walls, are being carefully removed with the aid of guide-ropes. Leaf mould has collected on the summits of the main walls to such an extent that large shrubs and small trees are thriving on the summits; these will be removed.
Seven monoliths have been found under the leaf mould and grass and shrub roots both inside and outside the foot of the main walls. Their former positions on the walls are being ascertained, and where obvious they will be re-erected.
The chevron pattern on the outside of the walls of the temple has been damaged, and in three places partially destroyed by large swinging boughs. It is also destroyed in two places by heavy festoons of creepers which had their roots in the open work of the pattern, the roots pushing out some of the blocks of which the pattern is composed. Some of these fallen blocks have been found, and there is a probability that a portion of the pattern, where damaged, may be restored. It is proposed to hand-pick all vegetable soil from the open spaces of the pattern to prevent future growths of creepers.
A clearing 8 yds. wide has been made round the outside of the whole of temple, and an inspection of the walls by visitors is now possible.
All the tops of divisional and broken portions and ends of walls, and all interstices on both faces, are having the leaf mould carefully hand-picked from them. This is a slow process, but will check their dilapidation by vegetable growth for a very long time.
The trenches made by Mr. Bent and Sir John Willoughby are being cleared of grass and silted soil, and their spade and pick marks on the bottoms can be seen. No ancient floor or soil has been disturbed, the ancient floors being some 3 ft. to 5 ft. below the present surface.
Roots of monkey-ropes and trees are binding the inside of main walls below the present surface, as does a large plant in a small pot, and are in most places, and below the surface, penetrating into the dry masonry with damaging effect. I would suggest that a trench 2 ft. wide by 3 ft. deep be made on the inside of all walls, and all such roots removed. A yearly inspection of such trenches could be made, and any new roots and runners lopped off as they appeared. Run-offs could be made to prevent any accumulation of water in the trenches.
Architectural features.—(a) Four ancient drains, in addition to those mentioned by Bent and Willoughby, have been discovered.
(b) A rounded entrance with double curves; the only instance so far known.
(c) Three sets of stone steps and several square yards of ancient cement flooring (not of the original builders) have been carefully uncovered.