Threshold

Thomas Staub

Threshold between room f and peristyle b
The threshold consists of two side plates of lava with the area in between covered by lavapesta with inserted white marble tesserae. The lavapesta is probably a remainder of the floor of room f, which has mostly collapsed due to the cellar underneath. The northern side plate (0.22 x 0.54 m) is partly built-over by the doorframe and projects into the door opening for 0.1 m. One round indentation (diam. 0.055, depth 0.005 m) can be observed next to the door frame, 0.16 m from the west edge. A square indentation with some remains of iron (0.05 x 0.045 x 0.005 m) is situated at the south edge, 0.11 m from the west edge. The southern side plate, which is not built-over, is 0.23 x 0.5 m large. On this plate only faint remains of a round indentation (diam. approx. 0.055 m) are preserved, situated 0.07 m from the southern doorframe and 0.19 m from the west edge. It seems, as if a square indentation (0.06 x 0.06 m) is situated at the north edge, 0.08 m from the west edge, but the surface of the side plate is much damaged.

Threshold between room f and corridor h1
The threshold in this doorway is mad of two blocks of travertine; the total width is 1.8 m. The travertine of the western block (1.345 x 0.26 m) contains yellowish inclusions. A square indentation (0.12 x 0.095 x 0.005 m) is situated at the north edge, 0.14 m from the west edge. A round indentation (diam. 0.08, depth 0.005 m) can be observed abutting against the square one to the south. At the north edge two further indentations are carved into the block, 1: 1.07 m from the west edge, 0.03 x 0.03 x 0.03 m, 2: 1.19 from the west edge, 0.03 x 0.025 x 0.02 m. On the second block (0.45 x 0.43 m the north western edge is broken off and missing. One round indentation (diam. 0.06, depth 0.004m) with some remains of iron is situated 0.16 m from the east edge and 0.14 from the south edge. Is seems probable that these two blocks are reused in their current setting.