The Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia is bringing to light a largely forgotten corner of ancient Pompeii that has unparalleled potential for enlightening Pompeian and Roman history. Through the full range of archaeological inquiry, this project is revealing the dynamic structural and social history of an entire city block of Pompeii: here we have discovered a working-class district (modest houses, shops, workshops, and hospitality outlets) which had an intimate urban connection to several adjacent and monumental public buildings, city fortifications, and other major civic networks. We are unraveling the sequence of building programs for these properties through archaeological excavations, structural and artefactual analyses, and geophysical surveys. This project thus presents a unique opportunity to examine the complex decisions involved in the planning, integration, and use of public and private space in the ancient city. The results will contribute a more detailed and reasoned understanding of the roles that non-elites played in the shaping of an ancient city.