The history of roof tiles in China is incredibly long and can be dated back to the late Neolithic period, approximately 4,000 years ago. This study on Neolithic roof tiles in China began at the end of 2021. Roof tiles from three main sites (Qiaocun, Lushanmao, and Shimao, located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River), as well as from other related sites, were arranged systematically.
The study found that roof tiles from the Neolithic period in China could be divided into two systems. One system included flat roof tiles (tegulae) with raised edges and semi-cylindrical roof tiles (imbrices), similar to the tegulae and imbrices used in ancient Greek and Roman architecture. Referred to as System A in this study, they were found at many Neolithic sites in the eastern part of Gansu Province and the southern part of Shaanxi Province. The other system, System B, consisted of slightly curved roof tiles (tegulae) and semi-cylindrical roof tiles (imbrices). System B roof tiles were mostly found at the Shimao site in the northern part of Shaanxi Province. After the Neolithic period, System A with “flat” tegulae declined gradually; nearly all roof tiles found in China after the Qin Dynasty developed into System B with slightly “curved” tegulae.
This presentation introduces the study’s findings on the styles of these prehistoric roof tiles and the related production techniques. It also analyzes the development of the two roof-tile systems, providing details about regional interaction and cultural transformation in early China.