Heavy and frequent rainfall is a serious obstacle to archaeological work on the North Pacific Coast. Exposure to many days and perhaps weeks of rain may impair the health of the field party and will inevitably dampen the morale of individual members. Rain causes delays, makes the midden material soggy and difficult to work, may collapse the trench walls, and brings numerous other major and minor headaches in its wake.

Last spring a group of anthropology students from the University of British Columbia, working under my direction at a site in the Vancouver area, tested the practicability of a simple shelter, designed to give adequate protection during wet weather and to admit sufficient light for all operations.