The substantial remains of a primitive structure of the 3rd century were uncovered within domus VI.14.40. In particular the cubiculum situated north of the fauces, decorated with I Style painting had a pavimentum Graecanicum, and part of the southern sector of the atrium were identified. Here, below the sequence relating to the late Republican crushed lava pavement, two beaten earth floors of the mid to late Samnite period came to light and thus date the earliest building in the domus to the mid 3rd century-first half of the 2nd century B.C. Moreover, it was possible to verify that the long archaic wall in pappamonte stone, uncovered below the same sector, ended almost in correspondence with the southern cubiculum of the Samnite domus, although no traces of a road surface were identified beyond the end of the wall. Therefore, at present there is no evidence to support the hypothesis that the continuation of Vicolo Storto passed by here during the Archaic period. (Cristina Marano – Elena Tommasino)