Building R, situated between the “House of the Monolith” and the “House of the Moulds”, has been excavated and four phases identified dating to between the end of the 4th century B.C. and the first half of the 3rd century B.C.
The original nucleus covered a small area of circa 100 sq.m and was composed of two separate rectangular rooms, with a front portico.
In phase 2 the area doubles (196 sq.m) and becomes more structured (18.50 × 10.60m). At the centre of the complex is a long courtyard, with symetrically placed rooms on the sides: two on the east (the original rooms) and two on the west of smaller dimensions. Three of the rooms opened onto the courtyard, the fourth maintained its access to the street. The main entrance was preceded by an internal prothyron (porch). One of the rooms was used for food storeage as attested by the presence of 6 large pithoi placed along the walls.
In phase 3 a basalt paved ramp was added to the prothyron and the space infront of it, to provide easier access.
Phase 4 saw the addition of the last room to the complex. It had an independent entrance on the west side and contained numerous pithoi aligned along the walls and in the centre. The bases of two pithoi were lined with lead. In the destruction layer which was composed of mainly mud brick and tiles, there were evident traces of a fire. Nails and an iron key were found within this layer.
The initial estimate of the capacity of the pithoi of somewhere between 300-500 litres each indicates a storeage capacity of between 6.000-10.000 litres. Such a quantity suggests that this structure had a commercial as well as residential function. (Maria Luisa Nava)