December 1933–June 1934

Continued from scan 8

… might hope to work at Curium during April as well as May and June. As things are, probably little could be done before May at Curium or any other entirely new site. This will of course be understood if you cable "Curium".

If I telegraph "Unavailable" (referring to Curium) I will look for a reply indicating your approval of Lambousa as the xxx xxxxxx site for this year's work, or for one indicating disapproval. For the former "Lambousa" will be sufficient. If I telegraph "Available" and you still, under the circumstances, prefer "Lambousa" to Curium, again the reply "Lambousa" would suffice.

Having an understanding with the authorities that our permit would cover Lambousa, which is only a short distance from Lapithos, on the sea east of our lower Geometric cemetery, I early in 1932 obtained the consent (in writing, which is, of course) of the Bishopric of Kyreneia to excavation of the site, which is, except for a part claimed by the area claimed by the state. I was assured that the state would be at our disposal when desired. What would remain now to be done to get our credentials into final order shall we decide to dig at Lambousa could be managed by mail with the help (which I should not hesitate to ask) of Mr. Dikaios, Curator of the Cyprus Museum, and/or Mr. Gunnis, Inspector of Antiquities. So I believe we could begin work at Lambousa the first week of April if we wish.

I have written all this not to advocate choice of one rather than the other of the two sites, but to make the conditions clear under which we should probably begin the campaign. I should not expect to find at Lambousa anything earlier than of the IV Century BC nor much from later than the VI Century AD; Curium would probably carry us much farther back and not bring us down into Byzantine times at all. [If anything in this letter contradicts what I wrote you about Curium in June 1931 or about Lambousa early in 1932 (January, I think, but it may have been sometime later), please consider this letter rather than the earlier ones mistaken.]

It appears now to be fortunate that I did not get to Cyprus last summer, for we now still own the excavation and household equipment that I should undoubtedly have sold or given away then. One instrument we managed with difficulty to borrow in 1931 and ought to have of our own this year is a simple transit or a dumpy level. Perhaps Mr. McFadden can bring one. If he should do so and (as is likely) doesn't care to bring a pole, I can procure one in Athens. It should be marked in metres of course, in any case. Among the things we could not find in Cyprus in 1931, in decent quality, filing cards, drawing and tracing paper, and draftsman's supplies generally.

I contemplate with much satisfaction the possibility of working again for the University Museum in Cyprus, and shall await further particulars with great interest.

Sincerely yours,

Handwritten: signature