This excavation’s main objective is to gain a better understanding of the structures associated with the productions in the workshops situated at the south-eastern corner of Insula VI 16, in order to use the new evidence to improve the overall understanding of the production system in Pompeii. Two of the three rooms forming the workshop VI, 16, 3-4 were recently cleaned by M. Flohr (cf. FOLD&R 214) who interpreted them as a fullonica associated with other wool working activity. In addition to continuing the cleaning of the room where the raw wool was processed, this season the adjacent large open space was investigated.

The substantial alterations in the area that probably took place in the Hellenistic period have disturbed the stratigraphy. The state of preservation of the few elements seen, aligned with the later structures, made it impossible to formulate any hypothesises about the area before the 1st century A.D.

The first clear evidence of activity probably dates to the period of restoration following the 62/63 A.D. earthquake. This was a pit whose pit and size in plan suggest it was used for quarrying ante-Plinian eruptive material as a component of the sand used in the restoration. The resulting yellow mortar is very friable and was use in almost all the walls of the workshop and surrounding rooms.

After this phase of restoration, which did not involve substantial alterations to the structures, several changes were made in order to install the workshop for processing raw wool. In particular, a water supply pipe and drainage channel were installed.

During the 70s A.D., the workshop temporarily ceased its activity. This is documented in particular by the creation of a pit, perhaps dug to extract eruptive material. The pit fill contained a fragment of Drag. 29 from La Graufesenque, signed by Patricius (i). Later, another water supply and drainage system was installed, connected at one end to the castellum aquae situated at the south-eastern corner of Insula VI 16, and at the other end to the workshop for processing raw wool, to the fullonica and lastly to the fountain in the House of the Golden Cupids. In the vast open space, two roughly-built structures were put up abutting the perimeter walls of the building. It is suggested that spinning took place in the first and weaving took place in the second structure, indicated by the presence of traces of large vertical looms without loom weights.