I have been to the Herculaneum Ruins...and the "house opus craticium" (a misnomer in description...watch the referenced video above...Randolph makes reference in his lecture.)

Some of the structures there can't be entered by "general public" but interior spaces are still accessed and studied by academics. The structure in the photo is on a public street and can be walked up to and viewed in (according to recent visits by students/friends)...but not entered do to public wear and tear on restoration/reconstruction work pending...

It is most precious and unique...and a wonderful example of some of some of the "oldest styles" of infill timber work, but the work in the photo (or much of it) is "new reconstruction" with elements of the original contained within as "historic interpretive display," as this is a "rebuild," from ruined elements during a pyroclastic event...

When discussing examples of "oldest structures" (wiki has many errors in it...) to meet standards set down by UNESCO, the Burra Convention, et al...the structure must be original, documented fully in context, and still standing on original foundation (in most examples) with most of the original material contextually still in use without "reworking."

The "oldest wood structure (or timber frame)"....is currently in Japan and before the destruction of it...the architecture in Syria may have surpassed it by over 4000 years...unfortunately now we will never know as the research has ceased and the village that contained it gone...

Last edited by Jay White Cloud; 03/24/16 07:28 PM.