The Indus Civilization c5.25

c5.25

The roofs of the houses must have been flat, and were probably surrounded with a parapet, a common custom in the East to-day. It is not known how these roofs were protected from the rain, but they were drained by projecting gutters made of pottery, and doubtless also of wood, which poured their contents into the street below. This method of draining the roofs is quite usual in most parts of India at the present time. As no roof tiles have been found, it is probable that the covering used was the same as that of many of the lower floors, namely stamped clay, which needed frequent repair and the constant use of a mallet or roller to keep it in good condition. The importance of a flat roof is very great in a country where people sleep out at night during the hot weather, and in so crowded a city roof accommodation must have been doubly useful.