Pompeii, Insula VII, 14: architectural analysis of the pre-Roman phases

This contribution presents the preliminary results of a broader stratigraphic and architectural analysis of Insula VII, 14 at Pompeii, integrated with excavation data, archival sources, and the study of construction techniques. The paper focuses on the pre-Roman phases (6th–early 1st century BC), which represent the earliest evidence of occupation within the insula and reflect the main stages in the development of the urban fabric prior to the foundation of the Sullan colony. Particular attention is devoted to the identification of the only Archaic wall found in the insula, to a large well-cistern dating to between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, and to a sequence of building phases that document the gradual transformation of the western sector into a structured domus with a Tuscan atrium. The paper also examines the emergence of new residential structures in the eastern part of the insula during the 2nd century BC, and the reorganization of internal layouts across the block.