This excavation regarded the lower part of the city of Herakleia. The area was previously known only from aerial photographs, which seemed to show an urban layout formed by blocks of buildings orientated towards the sea and arranged along the natural slope of the terrain. The trenches excavated established the presence of an insula, less elongated in shape than those on the acropolis, which contained residential quarters and workshops.
On the south side were situated two kilns, with circular plan and central corridor, surrounded by related dumps. The first kiln, with prefurnio, was smaller and certainly built of mud brick and must have produced rectangular bricks. The second kiln, also with prefurnio was built of tiles and produced tiles.
The insula was divided into rooms of various dimensions. On the eastern side was a well built of cobbles and tiles. The pottery recovered dates to the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C. On the piece of land next to the excavation there is evidence of the existence of hut floors relative to the Sirian phase of the settlement, the typologies being the same as those already known on the acropolis terrace and the terrace at Policoro. (Maria Luisa Nava)