The Worlds Strongest Dome Tents Since 1976
about us  shelters  greenhouses grip clips  designs  testimonials  q & a  manual  sitemap  home  store  search
yurts & domes  playadomes  bubbledome  crystalcave  accessories  relief tents  prepareshelters  other uses

Archeological Excavation Shelters, Tents, Yurt Domes

Shelter Systems provides portable, affordable and environmentally friendly shelters for archeological excavations and digs. Shelter Systems' waterproof Tents, Domes and Yurts have been sheltering people around the world for over 20 years. We manufacture a wide range of Tensegrity and Geodesic structures, from Portable Yurts to Solar Greenhouses.

Sturdy Design
Shelter Systems' Archeology Excavation Shelters, Tents, Domes and Yurts are made wholly of a superstrong, woven ripstop film which is watertight and will not rot or mildew. By using a combination of materials we provide a shelter constructed partly of a sunblock covering to provide shade and partly of a translucent white covering to provide a bright interior.

The frames are constructed of strong, long-lasting Class 200 PVC tubing. Shelter Systems' own patented Grip Clips join the dome's cover to the frame. Grip Clips provide greater strength than sewn seams or any type of grommet, because they do not puncture the cover. Each panel of our Archeology Excavation Shelters, Tents, Domes and Yurts are shingled over the next so that the domes breathe, yet are completely leakproof!


A Group of our 18' (5.6 m) Domes

Light and Fresh Air
Each of our 14' (4.2m), 18' (5.4m), and 20' (6m) shelters have four flap doors evenly spaced around the dome. The 8 ' (2.4m) and 11' (3.3m) have one door. The door coverings close automatically so you can go in or out quickly. There are no zippers to fumble with or break. For maximum ventilation the walls themselves can be rolled up. There is always plenty of light and fresh air in the Shelter Systems' Archeology Excavation Shelters, Tents, Domes and Yurts.

"Here is a photograph of our Crystal Cave being used in the excavation of the Dowell Site in January 1989. This structure made doing Archeology in the winter not only feasible but even pleasant. It is easy to assemble and easy to move." - Robert Lafferty, Mid-Continental Research Assoc., AR

Easy Set-Up Setting up a Shelter Systems' Shelter.
You will be pleased with how easily your Shelter Systems' Archeology Excavation Shelters, Tents, and Domes go up in 30 minutes without tools. You simply insert interchangeable poles into factory-attached connectors spaced evenly over the cover. The poles bend slightly when inserted, which tightens the cover into a wind- and waterproof dynamic shelter. Turn or move the dome into desired position. After the emergency needs pass, the dome can be easily taken down; just remove the poles, roll up the dome, and store it. Storage will extend the life of the shelter.Domes in desert

A Shelter System
Shelter Systems' Archeology Excavation Shelters, Tents, Domes and Tarps come complete with stakes, guy lines, vent tubes, spare parts and an instruction booklet that details floors, site selection, anchoring, cooling, winterizing, and stove installation.

Setting up a Shelter Systems' Dome.

Shelter Systems' Instruction Manual. Set up, storage, repairs, wood stoves etc ...

Accessories. Floors, net doors, porches and liners to make your shelter more comfortable.

Sizes: A drawing comparing the sizes of some of our domes.

The 11' Archeology Excavation Shelter™

Note that the Archeology Excavation Shelter 11' and 8' are constructed using a different geometry that has less panels and only one door (see the AES 11' ) photo above and the shape GroDome 8 on the GroDome page. The 14, 18, or 20 'ers each have four doors.

"We have enjoyed the shelter of your 30' yurt over our excavation site for 5 months now, and are very pleased with it. It casts a perfect, flat light for excavation and photography, and saves us the headaches of covering and recovering the excavation on a daily basis. The excavation site is in southeastern Utah, an early Puebloan pit house dating to the late 700s A.D." Winston Hurst

You get a lot more volume for your money as you go up in diameter. When you step inside the 18' Archeology Excavation Shelter after being in the 14', the 18 ' feels twice as big. The 20' Archeology Excavation Shelter feels twice the size of the 18'. This is because the extra feet in diameter extends out in all directions (including up) creating a large increase in volume. Since the surface area of the covering does not increase as rapidly as the volume, the larger domes are less expensive for the space you get.



The 30' (9 m) Archeology Excavation Shelter™ Tent. Four people can pick this dome up and move it to a new site without taking it down.

Archeology Excavation Shelter™ Tent 30 Diameter 30'x11' High, 706 sq', Weight 270lb. $2900
Archeology Excavation Shelter™ Tent 30 Diameter 30'x11' High Weight 190lb. $1990
Archeology Excavation Shelter™ Tent 20 Diameter 20'x10' High Weight 70 lb. $920
Archeology Excavation Shelter™ Tent 18 Diameter 18'x9' High Weight 60 lb. $780
Archeology Excavation Shelter™ Tent 14 Diameter 14'x7' High Weight 40 lb. $640
Archeology Excavation Shelter™ Tent 11 Diameter 11'x6'4"High Weight 20 lb. $350
Archeology Excavation Shelter™ Tent 8 Diameter 8'x7'4" High Weight 20 lb. $290
The 11 and 8 are Special Orders and are Not Returnable.

Archeology Excavation CrystalCave™ Tunnle Tent 9: 9'x9'x7' High, Weight: 40 lb. $520
Archeology Excavation CrystalCave™ Tunnle Tent 11: ll'xll'x7'High, Weight: 51 lb. $650

1 1/2-YEAR GUARANTEE. If for any reason you're not completely pleased with your purchase, return it in original, clean condition within 30 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange as you wish. All items in this catalog have a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for 1 1/2 years. Should any product prove defective we will repair or replace it at no cost to you. Special Orders are not returnable. Read Snow and Wind Warnings.

Order online with our Secure Order Form!

Questions?   Orders & Customer Service: Toll Free 866-777-1066 or 831-464-2002 eleanor@shelter-systems.com Technical: 650-323-6202 bob@shelter-systems.com. Copyright © Shelter Systems 1976 - 2008 All Rights Reserved