West Wall

Thomas Staub

West wall: width: 2.95 m, max. preserved height: 4.40 m, width of opening towards anteroom: 0.85 m, height of the springing level of the half-arch towards the anteroom: 1.55 m, height of the crown (at the same time its northern end): 2.44 m. On this side of the wall (unlike the side of atrium 4), the lower part of the wall is reinforced after excavation up to a height of 1.80 m, using regularly hewn Sarno stone blocks in dimensions between 0.15 x 0.10 - 0.30 x 0.20 m, in parts covered with a second modern layer of concrete. This modern repair is in parts marked by a row of tile, separating it from the antique masonry in the upper parts. This consists up to a height of 2.40 - 2.50 m of lava-incertum in the reddish mortar, with some Sarno stone blocks (max. 0.45 x 0.50 m) inserted into it. In the north west corner, at a height of 1.90 - 2.20 m, there are remains of plaster with yellow colour, against which the north wall abuts. Above the lava-incertum, the material used is red cruma, again set into reddish mortar, partly covered by plaster. Above 4.05 m height, the wall has been reconstructed after excavation. Above the northern doorframe to the anteroom, a quoin consisting of a standing Sarno stone block, 0.35 x 1.15 m, and probably some smaller blocks, is partly covered by modern concrete.

West wall of the anteroom: width: 0.85 m (doorpost to atrium4, 0.40 m wide), max. preserved height: 4.60 m. Plaster covers the wall up to a height of 1.80 m. The doorpost towards atrium4 shows, in 1.00 m height, a 0.40 x 0.50 m large Sarno stone block, above this a 0.45 m wide (stretching into the west wall of this anteroom), 0.30 m high block, on top of which the modern lintel is placed. The wall itself consists, up to the height of 2.00 m, of lava-incertum, there above of incertum of Sarno stone pieces and red cruma, all again set into the reddish mortar. In 2.60 m height, a 0.10 x 0.25 m large hole is visible.