The 2013 excavation at Villa B included six trenches aimed at investigating various aspects of the complex. Much of the work primarily concerned clean-up operations aimed at reaching and understanding the original level of 79 CE. The units focused on a sewer system in the SW corner of the central couryard (OPB3 and 8), rooms to the west of the courtyard (OPB4), a street and town houses to north of the courtyard building (OPB5 and 7), and the potico on the south side of that building (OPB6).

The units revealed a much more complicated sequence of events than we discerned last year. The two distinct floor levels in the peristyle were perhaps the most important discovery of the season. They correlate to at least three distinct phases of occupation. The second floor level in particular existed for some time before the insertion of the water system uncovered in units opb3 and 2. Although difficult to quantify, a measure of accumulation suggests that the floor was in use for a considerable amount of time before the insertion of the water feature. The channels themselves also seem abandoned by the time of the eruption, but only further excavation and analysis of the artifacts can assess any dating sequences. It may very well be that the earliest floor level we discerned is related to the first construction of the complex. In this case it may correlate to the original floor paving of the courtyard, whereas the second floor level associates with the accumulation lying above it we discerned last year. Only further excavation, however, can ascertain this sequence.

A thorough review of the GPR results is necessary to assess whether we can plan out the water supply system without much more excavation. If anything the trenches this year have shown a highly sophisticated drainage and supply system brought in after the first construction of the building. A further expansion of OPB 3 would help clarify the nature of the channels. An interesting proposal would be to chase the southern channel and explore the area just east of the so-called latrine. A number of questions remain regarding this area of the peristyle. A thorough clean-up of the entire southeastern corner would help to gain a better understanding of the peristyle, its use, and any associated phasing.