Ancient CyprusAncient Cyprus

Letter·34 CDF art. 168-3·15 June 1944

Letter from Schaeffer to Megaw thanking him and discussing the excavation schedule; a letter to Dikaios on the rectoClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

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Typed in English and French. Every line is transcribed and translated, and the English sits beside the scan.

Scan 2 of letter 34 CDF art. 168-3 (Letter from Schaeffer to Megaw thanking him and discussing the excavation schedule; a letter to Dikaios on the recto), typed in English and French. The transcription and translation follow.

Scan: Collège de France, Paris, 34 CDF art. 168-3, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Unnumbered pageScan 2 of 2

15 June 1944

Handwritten: Dikaios, Cyprus

My dear friend,

Since I left Cyprus and your very hospitable house, I have continued my mission in Egypt, Palestine, then I went to Morocco and then to Algiers, where I am finishing my report and my discussions before returning, in a few days, to England. The much-awaited events are recalling me, and I am happy to return to London, where the war is being fought.-

At my proposal, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique has decided to resume the excavations of Ras Shamra and all the activity of the Mission as soon as circumstances permit. This year already some work to restore the Mission's installations at Minet el Beida will be undertaken. On the other hand, unless events decide otherwise, spring 1945 is planned for the resumption of the research proper. Research at Enkomi is included in the programme of the Mission of Ras Shamra, and it is therefore certain that I shall be in a position to reopen these excavations as soon as the activity of the Mission of Ras Shamra resumes.

In the meantime, I ask you to have the site of Enkomi reserved for the Mission of Ras Shamra, where I found the first house of the Bronze town so long sought, and where I propose to undertake important clearances so that we shall learn the organisation of a protohistoric urban centre of Cyprus.

I shall keep you informed of the Mission's plans, and as soon as the resumption of research is decided, I shall make an official request to obtain from the Government of the island and the Antiquities Service the necessary authorisations. You can imagine how happy I am at the thought of being able one day to resume excavations on this island which I love so much, and where we spent so many happy days together during our journeys and joint research.

Please remember me kindly to Madame Dikaios and thank her for her charming hospitality; I say goodbye to you both[handwritten: x], [handwritten: best wishes for your research and cordially yours]

Handwritten: C.F.S.

Director of the Mission of Ras Shamra

65 figures hard to readstruck struck outadded written in above” jug ditto, and what it repeatsword reading not certain

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