Following the line of investigation dictated by the results of the 2017 excavations, the 2018 campaign focused on the northern half of the residential structure known as the Domus dei Dolia. The structure is situated in the locality of Poggiarello Renzetti within the Etrusco-Roman urban quarter excavated in the late 1800s, and dated by Falchi to between the early 3rd century and first decades of the 1st century B.C.

In 2018, the excavations concentrated on the northern part of the structure, in particular the front along the continuation of the so-called via dei Ciclopi and the north-eastern and north-western sectors, primarily continuing the investigation of the three crucial areas identified during the previous season: area O (on the same axis as the basalt road Us 3 to the north-east), P (the new room identified in the northern part in 2017), and Q (adjacent to area P and corresponding with the façade of the domus facing onto via dei Ciclopi. At the same time, trench I was extended to the west of area O and north of room B, and in the new area K (in the north-western corner of the domus).

Proceeding from east to west, the removal of the spoil heap from area O revealed new portions of the original paving of the road US 3 – and a section of the associated drainage channel – in the northern stretch of its continuation in the direction of via dei Ciclopi, to which it must have joined at a right angle, forming the north-eastern corner of the insula between the so-called via Ripida and the via dei Ciclopi, entirely occupied by the large Domus dei Dolia. In the overall layout of the quarter, the latter assumes the physiognomy of an imposing corner construction. Another short stretch of road may have branched-off from basalt road US 3 at a right angle, as suggested by a small concentration of medium to large stones arranged to form a surface (US 299) uncovered in the new trench I (adjacent to area O). The latter can be interpreted as one of the entrances to the domus, which was also directly accessible from the road US 3.

The opening of trench I, adjacent to area O, led to the identification in the northern part of the continuation towards the east of wall US 215, which closed room P (partially investigated in 2017) to the south, and revealed almost completely revealed the room’s plan. Further exploration in this room uncovered important structures. Firstly, the in situ continuation of wall US 235, which delimited room P to the north and at the same time formed the north side of the house, the stone threshold US 281 which, flanked by a stone semi-circular base (of a column?) US 282, seemed to represent the main entrance to the domus from the via dei Ciclopi. The entrance appeared to remain the main entrance to the domus until the end of its use, as seems to be indicated by the discovery still in situ close to the threshold of the iron fixings from the original door (probably timber) and, immediately outside the threshold, of a silver plated coin bearing the name Caius Licinius Macer on the reverse indicating 84 B.C. as the possible date of issue. This chronology would be coherent with that of the final phase of the house, attributed to the years dominated by the military reprisals carried out by the armies of the Sullan faction.

Significant and unexpected results, due to the badly compromised condition of the structures, came from the new trench K opened in the north-western part of the domus. Adjacent to room P, area K appeared to be a quadrangular space closed to the north by the house’s northern perimeter wall parallel to via dei Ciclopi. The centre of the space was occupied by a sub-rectangular structure (only partially excavated), which suggests this was possibly a space with an impluvium similar to a peristyle.