Chieti University’s excavations in the area of the Roman macellum concentrated on the south-eastern zone where a 7 × 7 m trench (Trench IV) was opened south-east of the areas investigated by the Superintendency in the 1990s. A complex stratigraphy was exposed. In the central part of the trench US 3025 was identified, a compact reddish brown layer with a clay matrix with clear traces of charcoal concentrated in the NW part, next to US -3027; this layer probably extended below US 3023 and 3024. To the NW of cut US -3027, also in the central part of the trench, there was a compact layer of brown to red soil with a clay matrix (US 3035) with clear traces of charcoal concentrated in its SE part, next to US -3027.

On the SW side of the trench US 3022 there was a compact layer of light brown soil, with lithic inclusions, a few tile fragments and occasional lumps of mortar.
The latter layers (3022, 3035) seemed to be cut by US -3052 whose edges were not clearly defined. The fill was removed (US 3033), which covered US 3060 (another layer of fill), revealing the actual edges of cut US -3052 and its depth (min. -1.44 m; max. -2.43 m). Both layers of fill contained abundant lithic and terracotta materials, pottery fragments, and substantial traces of loose mortar. These elements suggest this was a midden (preliminary interpretation).

Following the removal of US 3030, a probable posthole emerged up against the SE section (US 3036; 3037; -3039) formed by a cut (US -3039) about 35 cm in diameter and wedging formed by a circle of medium sized stones (US 3036). Immediately to the east, there was a sub-circular cut (max. width c. 90 cm, min. c. 60 cm) filled by a layer of very friable greyish brown soil. The layer contained abundant lithic inclusions and loose mortar. Underneath this fill, there was a sort of surface of whitish mortar on the bottom of the cut (US 3050) at a depth of -1.80 m.

At the end of the season, the trench was covered with geo textile and the cut partially back filled.