1952–April 1953

Handwritten: G. H. McFadden

THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

CURIUM EXCAVATIONS EPISKOPI, LIMASSOL CYPRUS

13th April, 1955

Copy of Paragraph 1 to Mr. Barringer.

The Director, The University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A.

Dear Fro:-

I am sending to Roger Edwards under separate cover my publication of the tomb of the gold scepter. As you will remember the original plan was to write up an article for the Bulletin. The material, however, seemed too important to withhold very long so I have written a much fuller account which is much too long for the Bulletin. I showed it to Mr. Hill and he found it suitable for a final publication. The re-dating of the famous gold scepter from the 7th to the 12th century is really now only of incidental importance. It is a shaft tomb which is unique at Curium and it contained two cremations which are unique in Cyprus. Actually it may have been the tomb of a refugee Achaian prince who came to settle at Curium under the pressure of the Dorian invasions. The implications of the association of transitional pottery with Bronze Age objects in bronze are interesting and may upset the chronology which has been worked out recently by the Swedes. I thought that Brandon might glean what he wants from it if he would like the material for the Saturday Evening Post. The paper is a little short for one of your monographs and perhaps a bit too long for the AJA. I thought, however, we might try the AJA. This would save you the cost of publication in your series. If the Saturday Evening Post can't use the material I thought the ILN might like to publish an abridged account along with a colored plate of the scepter. They might then give us the plate for the more serious publication in the AJA or elsewhere, but it would be very nice indeed if Brandon can use it.

While at Athens I showed the pottery to Gasky who is working on the publication of Troy. He said my preferred date for the tomb was perfect for them, so this was very gratifying.

Mr. Hill, Rodney and I had a meeting at Mr. Hill's house. As I think Rodney has written you, we have a new candidate for Curium. I knew him at Princeton where he was for a year. He made a very good impression on every one there.