1948

Continued from scan 55

… was the only aspect of the work at Kourion which could be presented in such a manner as to have a reasonable chance of being accepted. It is a unit in itself and it is something which ks not part of the work in which we are currently engaged. It will, in fact, necessitate adding a new member to our expedition.

Apart from the fact that we could not have expected help with Apollo anyway, there is the added advantage that the work on the bluff is the most costly single operation which we have planned at the moment so that, if granted, it would add more to our financial resources than any other section of the work.

I do not entirely agree that this adds to our commitments, for it seems to me that a commitment has existed since our last work having I would be very sorry to see our work at Kourion stop without publication completed the palace and done enough to make an intelligent publication of the theatre, basilica, and propylon; this would add one more to the sites which we have excavated and not published, of which there are too many already.

In answer to the question about the tripod, I assume that it will have to be sent by freight, as the other things were. You in Cyprus can tell better than I if air freight is within the realm of financial feasibility. If so, that would doubtless be preferable. Please impress of them the necessity of packing it well, in a bag and in a solid box. It would probably be best to unglue it before shipping it.

I don't want to become a bore on the subject of packing, but the last shipment left a good deal to be desired. I am absolutely sick about some of the damage, and what is worst, the fact that I feel particularly is that of the fragments were lost. An example that I feel particularly is that of solid stemmed goblet from tomb 39, which had unique handles, made of our few really strips of clay with triangular piercings. It was one of our best tomb. It elegant pieces, and one of the sherds scattered throughout the straw arrived shattered and with the strongest points of our best tomb. It in the packing box. In spite of a careful search, most of the handles were not recovered. It would have been best to unglue it before shipping, but in any case it should have been put in a bag so that all the pieces would be saved in the event that it broke. which was a foregone conclusion I can't imagine why this wasn't done, since I remember your advising me to do that with the Lapithos material which we sent to Cincinnati, and have no doubt that you gave John the same instructions.

Are you agreeable to my negotiating a distribution of Bamboula finds when I am in Cyprus? For one thing it will facilitate my work there if I know what part of the material is coming to Philadelphia, in which case I will not spend valuable time with it while in Cyprus.

I asked George, and would like to confirm it now, to arrange for the purchase of the Bamboula carob tree which stands in the middle of the tower of the Bamboula circuit wall in the Tofa lot which we bought. I am anxious to look for a gateway in the early wall under the cut down remains. It would also save me time if the tree could be cut down before I get there, though the roots will have to be left for my personal attention.

This must be all for the moment. With best wishes to all of you,

Cordially, [handwritten: signature]

JFD:jfd