Threshold

Mats Holmlund

The first feature of room 1 is a lavastone threshold. The design is of the ordinary type associated with shops. It is 3.34 m long and between 0.40 and 0.43 m wide, and consists of three separate blocks. The first (southern) block is 1.00 m long and between 0.40 and 0.42 m wide. The second (middle) block is 1.14 m long and also between 0.40 and 0.42 m wide. The third (northern) block is 1.18 m long and between 0.42 and 0.43 m wide.
The southeast corner of the second block is broken off.

There is a groove in the middle of the threshold. It is between 0.04 and 0.06 m wide and 0.02 to 0.04 m deep. The groove was probably used to fix the folding door or shutters associated with Roman shops.

There are (possibly) two pivoting holes in the first (southernmost) lava stone. The first (and probably the original one) is located circa 0.06 m from the south end and 0.22 m from the west side of the south block, and is circa 0.06 m wide, 0.10 m long and 0.02 m deep hole. The pivoting hole was supposedly used for a smaller door that enabled the owner to pass in and out of the taberna when the folding door was closed.
Adjacent to this hole, there is a second hole that is 0.08 m wide, 0.06 m high, and 0.02 deep. The function of the second hole is uncertain, but maybe it was used as a replacement of the first hole.
There is another hole located approximately 0.65 m from the south end and 0.24 m from the west side. It is 0.06 m in diameter and 0.03 to 0.04 m deep. The hole was probably used for a locking device for the smaller door.

The last feature of the threshold is small hole located at the top of the third lavastone and circa 0.10 m from the west side. It is 0.04 m long, 0.04 m wide and is of the same depth as the groove. The purpose of the hole is unknown.