There are two possible methods for roofing these dwellings. The conventional theory of roof construction, with a central open courtyard ( Fig 5). Looking a Hut 6 at Chysauster for this comparison, beginning with Room 6d. Due to its oblong shape it would require a hipped roof 6d. After constructing the hipped roof on room 6d the ends of the roof, must be set on to the centre of the Courtyard house walls. This is represented in the English Heritage interpretation boards at the site.

This interpretation has flaws when looked at in practical terms. It is not possible to prevent rain from pouring into the infill in the walls between room 6e and room 6d, and also between room 6d and room 6b. (see Fig. 5). Next the partitioned room, 6b, viewed as one room, has to be roofed. Another hipped roof would be appropriate here, with two supporting forked posts, as this is it would not merit three supporting posts, with a cross member placed between the two forks. The usual artists impression of this type of room in a courtyard house has an almost flat lean-to roof over these side rooms. In my opinion, this would not be weatherproof, as the pitch would not allow the thatch to drain. The oval ends of 6b/6c buttress up to the bottom of the thatch of room 6d and will do the same between 6b/6c and room 6a. Room 6a is a near perfect round, so a typical conical roof indicative of normal roundhouses, with the steeper pitch would be required. As the walls are so thick at the courtyard entrance side of this room, it would be very difficult to have all but a small overhang of the thatch of room 6a. The area between 6f and 6e is normally also shown on artists interpretations as a long flat roof. Which, as noted above, this would not withstand the rainfall characteristic of the area.

Room 6f would also provide a roofing problem as it is a very small rectangular , so small that it would perhaps only be possible to make a small cone shaped roof resting entirely on the walls. The span makes this possible, and a supporting post would not be necessary. The last room to thatch is 6e, a small workshop like area that could have a small conical roof as in 6f, with one side of the thatch buttressing up to the thatch for Room 6d. A central courtyard with individually thatched rooms leading off would be created, with possibly a wooden door at the entrance to the courtyard.

One of the most striking features of the typical courtyard house, is the preponderance of drains and drainage systems, indicating a wet climate, and a people keen to keep themselves dry within it. This invalidates this type of roof structure because rain water from these steeply pitched roofs, would be pouring gallons of water at a time, especially during a thunderstorm, into the soil and rubble infill of the walls of the buildings. Therefore the areas that join the rooms, and where the thatch does not overhang, must in some way be made waterproof. A solution to this problem, would be to hard pack Rab subsoil in these areas and line this with a layer of puddled clay. On top of the clay, Birch trees could be stripped of their bark, as was the practice when American Indians made Birch Bark Canoes (Schneider 1972 : 223 - 247). This bark could be laid on top of the clay and Rab with an overhang to allow the rain to pour away from the walls. This type of guttering, would have been well within the capability of the courtyard house dwellers.

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