The Tiled-Roof Phenomenon in Early Helladic Greece

This study presents the Early Helladic II ceramic roofing tile fragments from Zygouries, a site excavated by Carl Blegen more than a century ago. It is the first publication of an entire assemblage of Early Helladic roofing tiles, an oft-neglected find on archaeological sites. Details about the tiles' forms, features, and variability are presented first, followed by a production-oriented analysis reconstructing much of the chaIne operatoire and complementary volumetric and energetic analyses. The results of these studies allow for the local reception and sociopolitical implications of Zygouries's ceramic-tiled roof to be explored. The assemblage is then contextualized alongside other Early Helladic roofing tile assemblages and the material culture of the period to gain a clearer understanding of the broader cultural significance of such tiled roofs.