This is amazing. I had no idea that timber survived in Herculaneum - fires and hot air don't really sound timber-friendly.

They really should rebuild some shops and a fast food joint in the Archaeologtical Park in Xanten. Those must have existend in the Colonia Ulpia Traiana, after all, not only the fancy stuff like the amphitheatre and the inn. Though they are busy building some artisan workshops right now, which should prove interesting as well, esp. if they go for demonstations of Roman crafts. And they use the original methods of building as far as possible (and modern safety concerns allow).

Though I'm putting Herculaneum on my list. Didn't really want to go to Italy because I can't stand the heat and the tourists, but well ...