January–April 1954

Curium Excavations Episkopi, Limassol Cyprus 18 Feb 54

Dear Saul:

Several Bamboula matters are to the fore at the moment. I should be glad of your comment:

1. The excavation area will, of course, be turned over to the Antiquities Department for supervision and maintenance when we leave. Referring to the designations used on the general plan of Bamboula which I believe you have, Government now owns Area A, including Trench 1. We are definitely purchasing a generous rectangular area and a square area (3 meters all of Area E as far as the road and the Mycenaean well. All these areas will be fenced in and will remain open for archaeological study and visitors. I should be glad if you would let me know if you feel that the remains in Areas C and D, and Trench 15 are of sufficient architectural importance to justify purchase. Area F and the small trenches around the well have long since been filled in, of course. If you feel that the areas in question are not of that much importance, we will arrange to have them filled in at the end, and turn them back to their owners. I think (I will have to check) that the whole Bamboula area is designated as an Ancient Monument, so that the owners would be restricted in their use of the land to raising crops or grazing, and that constructions would not be permitted.

2. I have had Jack check over the plans which we have here, with a view to getting all the necessary drawings of Bamboula done. He finds conspicuous and numerous gaps in those of the tombs. Since your letter of May 22 last year suggests that you have all the original drawings, I wonder if you would be willing to check them over against the enclosed list and let us know if you have any of the drawings we lack. For convenience you could just check off of those you have on the list and return it to me. Philadelphia. I am sending another copy for your answers we will have to make some additions in this connection I think we will have one which is more complete. I think, for record purposes at least, we should show all trenches to the general plan (unless you have one which is not even dug, however unproductive. I note that our copy of the general plan does not show the small trenches in the area of the well, for instance.

3. I have suggested to Jack that he should arrange to boil up at least a rough draft of his conclusions on "the finds and the dating of the strata" and have it ready in the latter part of the summer. This with a view toward a personal conference between you and him, preferably here, while you are both on this side of the water. Details of meeting to be arranged, financially and otherwise, when your plans have jelled.

Comments?