Roofs. Constructive systems, problems, causes and solutions

“What is reputed to be the oldest surviving timber roof truss, found in the church of St Catherine on Mount Sinai, dates from the sixth century. It is probable that the early Roman basilicas, such as St Peter’s and St Paul’s outside the walls, had trussed roofs of timber. The Pantheon anticipated stuctural development by some seventeen centuries by having a metal truss of bronze; unfortunately, it was melted down… Early mediaeval roofs consisted couples of rafters pinned together at the apex and having a short collar about one-third of the way down. These rafters were covered with longitudinal battens to which the roof covering was fixed”. From FEILDEN, B. M., Conservation of Historic Buildings, Butterworths, London, 1982, p. 51