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What were ancient roofs built from? (ad-free) (Patreon)

Published:
2026-05-19 05:10:01
Imported:
2026-05
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Content

It's a question and answer edition of the Time Team podcast. Dr Helen Geake puts on her thinking cap as Time Team members grill her on subjects such as the prevalence of ants on a dig, the relationship between archaeology and other fields, and the way to determine what an ancient roof might have been constructed from.

Helen's Find also makes a comeback. This time Helen's looking at a stylus. You can see the item for yourself here:https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/900647

Time Team members get to ask Helen a question. Just head to the 'chat' section on Patreon at patreon.com/timeteamofficial

Comments

Margaret

Please do follow up with Naomi regarding the turf walls as that does sound very interesting. Thanks from Australia

Alan McMillan

In Scotland, there are what is called, Black houses. They have turf roofs. Only in remote areas.

Ian Hunter

Hi, I have a question for Helen. Often new evidence and research challenges prior accepted thinking and assumptions. For example until recent work in Orkney it was assumed that pre-bronze age cultures and ideas flowed from the south to the north of Britain. It now seems clear that monuments such as stone circles were first created in the north and moved south over the centuries. Likewise, DNA evidence has fundamentally changed our beliefs about the post Roman age Anglo-Saxon migrations in the 5thC are less an invasion and more a gradual transition. What other long cherished current archaeological beliefs does Helen think are likely to be up ended in the next 20 years? Ian Hunter

Tim Clarke

Thinking about the use of shingles and Helen saying that nails were needed and would show up in the archaeological record reminds me that from very early times ships were held together with “trenails” ie wooden pegs. Might this technique have also been used on roofs?

Julianne Ture

“Rooves” was indeed a plural form of “roof” at one time, but fell out of use about three centuries ago and is now considered archaic or dialectical.

Linda

You mentioned about no evidence of stairs in Roman buildings?? But they must have had them? Right? They had 2+ storied buildings. Certainly no elevator. Please clarify.

Steven Parkes

Just wondering why shingles need iron nails. If you drilled a hole in them (as with stone tiles) you could use a wooden peg, or even use something to tie the shingle to the roof.

Donna Fagnelli

I majored in anthropology in the US where it was/is coupled with archeology (where those programs still exist). When speaking with my academic advisor to choose electives, I asked him what was appropriate, as the guidance stated "related elective". Obviously geology was a no-brainer, but he told me just about anything in the natural and or social sciences were appropriate because they ultimately circle back to humans in some way.

Brian Fisher

Canadians like me say "rooves" for roofs. It slides out more easily without the extra breath required by the F. ;)

steve

Interesting stuff. There is a project at Durrington walls now of a neolithic "hall" being built. Very impressive, and changes our perception of the "stone age" Of course looking for disturbances in the soil is how we find ancient structures. BTW plural of roof is rooves roofs does not sound right. BTW2 We are an amalgam of Norman French and Germanic languages sprinkled with latin and other Indo-European tongues

steve

I am frankly appalled at this narrow approach to the past. In this day and age, surely the importance of being inter-disciplinary cannot be under-estimated. Having courses on geology and anthropology in your foundation year, should be requirements. It would make you far better as an archaeologists.

Brian Fisher

Guedelon Castle is an experimental archaeology site in France that has recreated a 13th century castle and many out buildings. One of the turrets has oak shingles while another has ceramic roof tiles. Some of their workshops are well covered with large wooden shingles hooked on to horizontal wooden laths with wooden pegs.

Sandy Story

I think the ant question may be different for different regions. Here in Texas, we have to always consider fire ants when choosing a dig location. We also have to watch for various pit vipers when doing survey.

Fiona D

There are a couple of previous podcasts where Helen talks about the Roman stairs problem. About a year ago? You should be able to search the Patreon site to find it. Super intriguing and not as straightforward as you might think.

Kathy Carlson

Helen, in northern Wisconsin we wear mosquito netting when we need it. Yes, it might be a bag over the head, but I think of it as a holiday/vacation savior!! Great podcast.

Janie Waters

ROOVES. No doubt about it. Roof/rooves LOL

Janie Waters

Well then, I am centuries behind in my speech patterns. It's rooves for me; always has been LOL

Christina M Gravatt

Helen maybe the Midwest American sid house which not only had turf walls but roofs might have something to contribute to archeology's study of ancient roofs. We have (relatively speaking) quite a few second half of 19th photos of same. Don't know if that helps but it is an idea which might be worth investing. Tina M. Gravatt Albuquerque, New Mexico, U S A Email: christinamgravatt@gmail.com

Huw Davies

Helen, do you follow Kevin Stroud's History of English podcast? I think you would really like it. I recall one episode he went into pleurals like wife/wives, wolf/wolves etc. and I think it goes back to old English.

Tony French

Agreed. My first thought when I saw the podcast title was ' It's rooves, surely...?'.

David Boon

Wooden shingles were used in Tasmania where I live into at least the 1880s. Many Georgian and Victorian homes later had corrugated iron put over the shingles.

Helena McGinty

Ive enjoyed watching videos about that project. Fascinating.

Cheryl

I thought that British archeology is standoffish from other disciplines because until and possibly well into the 20th century you had to have money or know someone with money to finance a dig. And when it became a profession, I heard it didn't pay well so you needed outside money to live. This is a view heavily influenced by historical novels taking place at digs and reading about the finding of Tutankhamen's tomb! Originally a rich man's hobby!

Gloria B

Bark from select tree species has been used as roofing material in many cultures. I’m not sure how archeologists surmise its use, but it’s an interesting possibility.

Dyana Mason

One of the things I love the most about Time Team is the way you do approach the site from multiple disciplines - from archeology, osteo archaeology, geology, landscape archaeology and environmental archaeology (with Naomi's brilliance). You should how to bring the full story of a place into focus.

Alan

Following the discussion on roofing materials, and Helen wondered whether there was an environmental signature for a turf roof. It occurs to me that a turf roof might have a distinctive insect population.

Alan

There are midges in Orkney, but only when the wind drops. I was there in August 2024 for a week and only met them one evening.

Marcus Mellåker

One way of roofing from old Scandinavian houses are to use birch bark as a waterproofing layer beneath turf. As birch bark also dosen’t rot that easily, maybe it could be found on ancient sites. Shouldn’t need any higher tech than a flint knife to cut and strip bark from a birch.

Bruce Martin

Front the Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana we say what sounds like “Ruff”

B. Ross Ashley

I was born in Connecticut and we said roof to rhyme with a doggish "woof", not a long oo like truth or a short u like tough or rough.

Emma Bawden

Really enjoyed that. 🙂

Dinah Sanders

Such a fun episode! Love what you two are doing. 💖