Following a georadar survey, carried out by Archeoprospections of Vienna on behalf of the Institut fur Klassische und Provinzialromiche Archaologie – Innsbruck University (Austria), with the permission of the Archaeological Superintendency of Pompeii and the fundamental support of the Servicio de Investigacion Arqueologica Municipal of Valencia (Spain), an excavation was undertaken in the Casa di Arianna. At the present time the project’s aim is to check the survey results through excavation, although it seems that in the near future a fuller study of the house will be necessary in order to complete the data provided by this excavation.
The domus was built in the middle years of the 3rd century B.C. (c. 150-130). In the original plan the monumental corinthian peristyle was already in place adjoining the tuscanicum style atrium that opened onto the Via degli Augustali. The large impluvium is composed of border of stones and earth/mortar probably lined with signino, resting on irregular blocks of Sarno limestone.
A period of large scale alteration can be dated to the Augustan period, around 40-30 B.C. What is missing at present is archaeological evidence for the rebuilding during the post-Sullan period, evidence for which is provided by the redecoration of some rooms in the II style.
As regards the earliest phases, it can be said that the central peristyle of the mid-2nd century was possibly built over an earlier colonnade, thus raising the floor level by about 60 cm. Fortunately, a limestone column base was uncovered that can be attributed to the earliest phase for which a date of 190-180 B.C. is suggested. A section of wall and an associated beaten floor surrounding the first colonnade were also uncovered. Unfortunately, at the moment, it has not been possible to establish the plan of the building to which this possible portico belonged. (Luigi Pedroni – Alberto Ribera)