"What of Atkinson's contention that the hill was raised in tiers? The new survey work suggests otherwise. The uppermost terrace, when circumnavigated, returns to a point several metres below the starting point - in other words, it spirals down. Weathering has obscured the detail of ledges further down the slope; but if we assume the feature is continuous, it implies a spiral path all the way from the summit to the base.

"The idea of a spiral path is attractive. It would not only have provided a processional route to the top of the hill, but would also have aided the construction of the mound. Atkinson's tiered structure poses enormous logistical problems for anyone hauling material to the higher levels. Not impossible of course; and great amounts of scaffolding, ladders, gantries and other construction paraphernalia could have been used to help. However, a spiral would have allowed easier access, and material could have been carried or dragged up to the working level with considerably less fuss."