Some good info and resources:
“The rain screen siding principle is straightforward: first build an outside wall and weatherproof it (building envelope), secondly construct an outer layer of siding (rain screen) to keep the weather (rain, snow, sleet,wind and sun) away from the inner wall. The air space in the wall cavity between the building envelope and the rain screen allows moisture to escape and also creates a passive insulation layer.
Rain screen siding technology has been in existence since as early as the 12th century A.D. Some wooden stave churches in Norway that were built in the late 1100’s using early rain screen wood siding technology are still in existence today. Many Japanese temples were also built about the same time using similar rain screen siding principles.