Is archaeology just so many holes in the ground?
One of the archaeologists in tonight's Chronicle admits that it can easily seem like that. But he is one of a growing band that won't leave it there. In a spirit of 'trial and error,' these archaeologists are setting out to rebuild the structures that the 'holes in the ground' suggest.

At Avoncroft in Worcestershire, the subject for reconstruction is a set of Iron Age houses; while at the Lunt Fort near Coventry, a huge Roman granary is going up with the help of a squadron of Royal Engineers.

In the same spirit but a lighter vein, Magnus Magnusson listens in on some experiments with ancient musical instruments to find out what these usually mute objects are capable of once we get them out of their museum cases and give them a try. It's all a long way from 'holes in the ground.'

With Dr John Coles, Peter Reynolds, Brian Hobley