The Officina Coriariorum, or tannery, was a large workshop used for processing hides. Archaeological research has shown that the industrial activity was installed within structures that had previously also served as dwellings, and which were subsequently altered and enlarged.
Leatherworking required large quantities of water and a sequence of operations to clean, treat and tan the material. The workshop therefore included vats and masonry installations designed for the different stages of the process.
The presence of both residential and living quarters within the same complex shows how spaces for work and private life could coexist at Pompeii and change over time.
Further reading
Pompeiiinpictures Detailed images of the building
View this location on the Pompeii Buildings and Places map