It's been a while since I have visited the archeological sites near the Temple area. I believe that you appreciate what you read in history is best appreciated by personally seeing it.
As I plan to be in Yerushalayim, soon, I'd like someone who can recommend (or, perhaps, if you live in Yerushalayim, you might personally want to do this?) recommend a high-quality yet reasonable tour that can correlate Talmudic and / or other descriptions of the 1st or 2nd Temple period with viewing the actual archeological findings. I've been to the "Temple model" places. They're good for getting a general perspective, but I'm looking to see what may be left of the actual "items". E.g., if they may have located any part of the Temple platform, altars, tools used, cisterns, pipes, etc. I am also taking the more "lenient side" regarding entry to the Temple Mount area (if someone is concerned about that.)
If you, personally, are willing to provide the tour, please send me your email so that I can contact you, privately.