Enkomi excavations: proposals for collaboration of the Cyprus Government Department of Antiquities with the French Archaeological MissionClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer and Arthur Hubert Stanley Megaw

Handwritten at top: COPY, underlined

Proposals for collaboration of the Cyprus Government Department of Antiquities with the French Archaeological Mission:

1. The Department would join in the excavation of the Bronze Age settlement site at Enkomi on the invitation of Dr. Schaeffer, Director of the French Mission, who holds a licence to excavate in that site. The venture would thenceforth be regarded as a joint undertaking and referred to in some such style as "the French Archaeological Mission and Cyprus Government Joint Expedition to Enkomi". The purpose of the collaboration would be to extend and intensify the investigation of the site which the French Mission has undertaken. The Department would nominate Mr. P. Dikaios, Curator of the Cyprus Museum to take charge of its archaeological participation in the joint expedition.

2. The Department's contribution would be determined by the nature of its resources. These include salaried staff permanently on the spot, administrative facilities but limited funds for payment of labour. Its contribution would therefore be mainly in the following directions:

(1) Excavations seasons of relatively long duration, but with a small labour force and covering a limited area.

(2) Contribution of staff and facilities to the French excavations.

(3) Local administrative functions concerning the expedition as a whole.

3. The character of the site as so far disclosed suggests that the slow excavation of selected areas with intensive study of successive occupation levels down to the rock would produce valuable results. While this cannot be done throughout the whole site without sacrificing the impressive remains of the Mycenean period now being laid bare, which should be preserved so far as possible, it could be done in selected areas. The Department's resources are such that it could join the French Mission in the meticulous excavation of such areas down to the rock. To the investigation of such areas the Department could devote annually an excavation season of two to three months duration under a labour force of about forty provided labour is available. The selection of the areas to be excavated by the Department would rest with the Director of the French Mission but would normally be a matter for consultation and mutual agreement. Mr. Dikaios would be in charge of the Department's excavations and would study the results and prepare reports for the joint publication referred to in paragraph 8 below. Of the finds from the Department's excavations only the normal half-share would be claimed from the Cyprus Museum.

4. Assuming that the two parties would not excavate simultaneously the Department would contribute to the French excavation campaigns two or more expert diggers from its salaried staff, loan of such tools as are available, and storage of finds so far as staff and accommodation permit. In addition in Dr. Schaeffer's absence Mr. Dikaios could exercise general archaeological supervision of the French Mission's excavations if desired.

5. Among local administrative functions the Department would undertake negotiations with proprietors of the land

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