Leaving an excavated site unprotected between excavation campaigns can cause damage to baulks and to features just below the surface. It can also create unstable surfaces that are potentially dangerous for excavators to work around. Using backfilling as a means of protection can be timeconsuming and impractical if the excavation area is large and must be re-excavated when the work eventually resumes. An alternative method is used at the site of Kaman-Kalehöyük in central Turkey, where at the end of each season the main trench of the excavation is covered with a temporary roof made from local, reusable materials. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this type of protection.