This was the fourth excavation campaign on the Roman site at Tassignano di Capannori (Lu), Tax C/82; work continued in room C, which was uncovered during the 2016 season.
Characterised by the presence of three patches of flooring made of brick cubes, the room’s perimeter structures were damaged by robber trenches. The excavation concentrated on the robbing along the south (US 54) and east (US 58-64) sides.

The emptying of trench 54 revealed the only surviving structure, a vat lined with opus signinum (US 63) of which the floor and a part of the north cordon were preserved, while the south side presented a rectangular cut at the centre. Traces of fire represented by reddened surfaces with sooty residues were identified on the south side, at the base of the vat, and to the east, in the section formed by the interior wall of trench 54.

In rural contexts in the Lucca area such as that of Tassignano, small vats lined with opus signinum are found within wine making installations.
However, the case of Tassignano differs from this model. The shape of the vat together with the type of paving in adjacent room C rather suggest it was a small balneum of the so-called Hellenistic type, without a hypocaust, often characterised by the presence of a pool at the centre of the calidarium. The complex can be dated to the period between the late 2nd and the 1st centuries B.C.

As part of this picture, the above-mentioned traces of ‘baked clay’ and soot suggest the presence, to the east of the vat/pool, of the structures for heating the water (US 65, 66). Where the continuation of wall 50 was expected on the east side of room C a cordon of gravel and crushed stone (US 69) came to light, while at the end of excavation the trench had a particular ‘S’ shape, which although is not casual, is difficult to interpret.
The only certainty is that wall 50 was interrupted; along its line is found the make-up US 69, compatible with a threshold or, in any case, a light structure, relating to a large opening in the east side of room C.