January–June 1936

9 Plutarch Street, Athens,

24th April 1936The Director of Antiquities, Nicosia.

Dear Sir,

Your letter dated 16th April has just reached me. It has already been in part answered by mine of today, wherein I state that the land to be expropriated for excavation at Curium would, according to my understanding of the matter, be acquired directly by the Government. It would of course thus become Government property.

Basing my estimate on the preliminary appraisal of the whole site made for the Commissioner (under the Order gazetted as No.285, March 27th 1936) I judge that the area shown in the plan attached to my letter of April 20th might cost a trifle more than £180, in which case we should expect to pay slightly more than £120. I am of opinion, however, that the preliminary appraisal errs in the direction of generosity towards the owners. If the Government contributes £60 and the total proves to be appreciably less than £180, we shall be prepared to invest the difference between our contribution and the expected budgeted £120 in the purchase of a part of lot No.46 which we have reluctantly excluded from the area designated for expropriation. If it is preferred that we pay 2/3 the cost of the land and the Government 1/3, we are prepared to agree.

We should not object to having the care-taker, employed by us, collect entrance fees from visitors for Government account, provided that he acts by Government authority and that this service does not involve additional expense to him or us. [handwritten: clearly] The collection of fees at Curium would be inaugurated, of course, only as part of the general policy of the Department of Antiquities.

Yours very truly,

Handwritten: signature

Director, University of Pennsylvania Archaeological Expedition.

Handwritten: Copy to Mr P. Cacoyannis