The area under investigation is an integral part of the archaeological complex known as the Forum Boarium, and forms the natural southward continuation of the area of Sant’Omobono. During this study, the walls were re-examined and an up to date plan was made that highlighted the importance of this context, providing adequate graphic documentation and new photographs. Excavations undertaken in area O documented the existence of a workshop for metalworking, an activity that although documented needs further investigation. The same can be said for the presence of a room of the same date in area E.

This season’s excavations furthered investigation of a late antique metalworking structure and its immediate surroundings. Numerous floor surfaces and associated restructuring were documented inside the workshop, indicating continuous activity between the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. The workshop was rectangular in plan (2.90 x 3.00 m), delimited by masonry-built walls, while to the south there was a threshold and a series of _opus signinum_ facings. The excavations outside the structure, south of the threshold, opened a rectangular area on an east-west alignment (5.70 x 3.00 m), which exposed a series of overlying road surfaces alternating with frequent episodes of robbing and fill. It was determined that all activity in this area occurred within a precise time frame that did not go beyond the 6th century A.D., corresponding perfectly with all phases of the workshop. The presence of continual rebuilds and the restoration of a pillar are probably related to the many seismic events occurring in that period, as are the substantial collapses present. One of these collapses, abutting another room to the north, similar to the workshop, will be investigated next season. Beginning next season, work will begin on the monumental collapse on which functional and static studies will be made in order to reach a hypothesis regarding what happened. Preliminary finds studies proceeded alongside the excavation activity. The largest pottery classes were amphorae and coarse wares of Italic production. African and Eastern productions were predominant among the amphora but there were also a significant number of Italic examples. Kitchen-wares formed the largest class of coarse pottery but there were also numerous examples of table-wares and African kitchen-wares. A large number of glass and metal finds were also recovered.

This season work concentrated on two different areas of the production quarter (previously investigated in 2013-2014). Two trenches were opened, which proved to be very interesting as they revealed evidence of the transition from the imperial to the late antique phase. In order to reach the imperial levels it was decided to remove a substantial part of the collapses present in the area, specifically in the immediate vicinity of the metalworking structure to the west (area A), and in the far east-south-eastern area (area C). The removal of the collapses made it possible to read the entire area and, above all, understand the zone adjacent to the late antique metal workshop in all its phases, which saw numerous collapses and rebuilds. In fact, to the east of the workshop (not excavated this year) another production structure with various phases was completely excavated down to a floor in _opus_ _spicatum_. The presence of a threshold led to the identification of part of a well-made road paved with medium sized _basoli_. This seemed to reach the quarter at the height of the new structure presumably linked to another production phase associated with the workshop. It is interesting to see that all the events that occurred in this ambit, although attributable to successive phases can be dated to within a precise chronological arc that reaches the 6th century A.D. and coincides perfectly with all phases of the workshop. The dismantling of the collapses made it possible to clarify the presence of continuous rebuilds and the restoration of a pillar, making it ever more plausible that the entire area suffered extensive damage from the multiple earthquakes that took place in these periods. The excavation of a trench in area C was just as significant, where the presence of an interesting structure interpretable as a _caupona_ had been noted. This was excavated down to the first imperial phase, revealing different patches of floors, which although small attest the long use of this room. The levels of collapse also had to be removed here. It seems clear that the entire structure underwent numerous modifications and rebuilds and the last of these attests its use as a structure for producing objects in metal and other materials, although presumably in this case it was not a workshop-forge. Of note, the presence in room A and room C of small and very small bronze coins, collected there to be melted down. The finds study has shown that amphorae and coarse wares of Italic production were the predominant ceramic types. A substantial number of African and Eastern amphorae were also present. Kitchen wares were predominant among the coarse pottery, but there was also a significant amount of African table and kitchen wares. Glass and metal finds were also present.