The ‘_Egnazia_ Project: from excavation to _enhancement_’, run as a field school, continued its investigations of the atrium domus in the large insula south of the forum already known for its late antique phase. Excavations also began in another sector in the south-western part of the forum, which is separated from the previous one by the via Traiana.
The excavations in the atrium domus largely revealed the layout of the house in the imperial period: the fauces opened onto the road bordering the insula to the south (known from geophysical survey) and led into a large atrium (9 × 8 m) with central impluvium, paved in opus signinum. To the rear, on the same axis as the entrance, was the largest room, perhaps the tablinum, as suggested by the rich wall decoration of polychrome plaster. There were also traces of plaster where columns stood indicating the room had a colonnade opening onto the atrium. The water supply system was documented by the impluvium with an overflow created in the opus signinum, from which water drained via a small channel towards the tablinum and thus to the exterior towards the forum. Indeed, based on the observation of the drainage system in the baths and the peristyle house already investigated in the same insula, it is possible to suggest the presence of a large sewer for the collection of waste water.

The rooms on the eastern side of the house were arranged around a room opening onto the atrium and characterised by particularly refined architectural solutions. It was divided into two spaces on two levels, paved with mosaic (mostly lost) and decorated with polychrome wall plaster. The house was built on an earlier complex; the parts uncovered so far belong to a monumental enclosure in opus quadratum with internal partitions. The layout and materials suggest (further excavation is needed) that this was a public building, perhaps religious, used at least between the 6th and 3rd centuries B.C. Therefore, this could be the first monumental complex known for the Messapian period at Egnazia.

There was some evidence of ritual practices, with interesting parallels in the Republican period, which perhaps mark the change in use of this area at the time when the domus was built. Indeed, small plain ware and black glaze cups, miniature kantharoid vases, together with animal remains mainly sheep-goat, but also a new born pig, without butchery marks, were found in the floor make ups.

Therefore, the deepening of the excavation revealed a stratigraphy running from the Messapian monument to the aristocratic house, with evidence that it was restructured several times, until the beginning of the 5th century A.D. when a church was built on the remains of the domus marking a profound change in the urban landscape.

The start of excavations in the south-western sector of the forum documented a building with five rooms arranged around a central space, also dating to the 5th century, built on top of an earlier structure, only a minimal part of which has been identified so far.
This was a lime-making workshop, situated between the Episcopal complex and the church near the forum, which is another addition to the numerous workshops for the production of building materials known in late antique Egnazia.

The complete production line was identified in the central area: several cuts served as a deposit for the blocks that were prepared for burning in a pit lime-kiln. Water was provided by two large-capacity wells. After the lime was slaked in a large cut, the finished product was perhaps stored in an adjacent room, judging from a substantial find of slaked lime, in association with coins indicating it was sold here.