During the re-structuring of La Scala theatre archaeological investigations identified eight occupation phases in the area, from the Roman period to the present day. The excavations confirmed that this sector, situated next to the Republican city walls and within the enlargement of the city undertaken at the time of Maximian was characterised by craft-working, production activities and residential zones.

The earliest phase (Ia) (end of the 1st century B.C. – 1st century A.D.) was residential with workshops producing iron and glass. This is followed by a period of abandonment (Ib) represented by the demolition of structures, middens and levelling using dumped material from elsewhere.

Phase II (1st-beginning of the 2nd century A.D.) is represented by a room with a beaten earth floor. Levels of baked clay containing traces of iron slag, concentrations of charcoal, crucibles for bronze smelting and moulds for the production of small bronze objects indicate the presence of a workshop. A drainage system made of upside down amphorae may have served to de-humidify the structure.

During phase III (2nd century A.D.) the phase two structures were demolished, burnt material was dumped and levelling with dumped material occurs.

In phase IV (end of the 3rd- beginning of the 4th century A.D.) the area was reorganised for residential use, perhaps as part of the expansion in the period of Maximian, as attested by a room with an opus signinum floor and column bases.

Phase V (late antique – early medieval period) saw the abandonment of the residential complex and the levelling of the structures. Other phase IV structures were re-adapted for different functions and the sewer in the central-west area was definitively abandoned.
In phase VI a structure was built in cobbles and fragments of brick bonded by silt mixed with mortar, this is abutted by a compact layer of fragmented opus signinum, brick and mortar. Numerous middens are present across the area.

Phase VII (1775-1778) saw the construction of La Scala theatre, whilst phase VIII is represented by the adding of subsidiary structures to the theatre complex. (Carla Pagani, Alessandra Starna)