Medieval Archaeology: Tiles and Floor Designs

The first tile to appear in medieval times was the ceramic floor tile in the thirteenth century. Such tiles were exclusively used to decorate the religious institutions and homes of the royalty and nobility. Some of the common patterns of ceramic tiles included geometric designs, decorative mosaics, family crests, and depictions of Christian scenes and symbols. During the middle ages, the tile production cost was quite high and only the church and a few wealthy people could afford it. Howev...