Compact fill of a rectangular cut (20118) in the natural soil. I wonder if the compaction of this fill is due to the soil being covered by many floor levels above (opus spicatum, diamond tile, and cocciopesto,) and thus preserved under remnants of said floors. Additionally, a furniture piece may have sat in the corner-see SU 20116 interpretation- that further pressed and compacted the clay below. Was this cut originally made to stabilize a heavy furniture piece (storage?) that would have unevenly sunken into the natural soil anyway? And then later filled as the floors were redone? -EBS