The excavation in Vicolo di Marcus Lucretius Fronto was undertaken following the discovery of a channel below the tower uncovered in the northern stretch of Pompeii’s city wall during excavations undertaken by the Japan Institute of Paleological Studies of Kyoto. In fact, the channel was also identified outside the tower leading towards the Vicolo di Marcus Lucretius Fronto. Excavations in the Vicolo aimed to find the channel’s continuation and gaining an understanding of its function. Two trenches (A and B) were dug but revealed no traces of the channel. However, trench A provided interesting data regarding the various phases of occupation in Vicolo di Marcus Lucretius Frontone.
The deepest stratigraphic unit (US 3.8) was concentrated within a cut in a thick layer of clay. The presence of the cut can be related to the clay extraction which was carried out in this area of the city before it was urbanized. The cut was therefore filled with fragmented material to provide a level surface. A beaten earth road was built over this, its surface bearing some wheel tracks. The finds from 3.8 can be dated to between the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C., although their study is at a preliminary stage. More precise dating may provide very interesting data on the period in which the clay-pit went out of use and therefore, the beginning of urbanization in this area of the city with the creation of the road network. (Satoshi Sakai – Vincenza Iorio).