Unit I 10,13

Abstract

The pavement of this unit was of cocciopesto and the walls were covered with a high cocciopesto socle with upper parts in coarse plaster. A wooden stairway ascended from the south-west corner, along the west wall, and an L-shaped, red-painted masonry bench (h.: 760 mm; l.: 3.3 m; w.: 60 mm), inset with two small dolia, projected into the centre of the room from the south-east corner. In the west end of this bench Elia recorded a masonry fornello. Remains of the closing system, included an iron door key, were found in the east entrance. The presence of the key suggests that this establishment was abandoned in haste. On the pavement near the north jamb, an inscribed amphora was found. In the northeast corner, a small ceramic vase was found. Against the south wall stood a tripod on which were found the remains of another ceramic vessel. On the bench were found: a bronze funnel; four more ceramic vases; the base of a terra sigillata dish, possibly reused; a large glass storage jar; two small glass bottles; a bronze tube; a clay lamp; and two bronze coins, one Republican and one an as of Tiberius. These finds point to this area having been used for food preparation although this is less evident for the two small glass bottles. A bronze ring, possibly a finger-ring, and four more coins (Republican and Julio-Claudian) were found a few centimetres above the pavement. At 2.5 m above the pavement were found a bronze cooking pot, a bronze bucket, and a terra sigillata dish. These objects were conceivably from the upper storey, implying that cooking and eating may also have been taking place there, although these could have been disturbed from the ground floor. Elia identified this as a ‘taberna’ and Packer referred to it as ‘Caupona Poppaeorum’. The finds indicate that food was being prepared here. Packer believed that the owner had a small apartment above. If the finds from the upper levels of the volcanic deposit were from the upper floor, this would suggest that cooking activities were also being carried out there. However, this seems an unlikely activity in the residence of someone who ran a food outlet.