Letter from Dikaios to Forrer on the trenches dug at EnkomiPorphyrios Dikaios

Printed: GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS

Stamp: emblem of Cyprus government

Ref. No.: [illegible] Our Ref.: 36/36/3 Your Ref.:

[printed: DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES NICOSIA]

21st November, 1953

Dear Mr. Forrer,

With reference to our conversation at Enkomi on the 19th instant I should like to confirm my oral request that a sufficiently wide area round each of the trenches which I excavated for the Department of Antiquities be left unfilled. The same request was made by Mr. Megaw direct1y to Dr. Schaeffer in the letter which I mentioned to you and which you might perhaps open and read.

2. Looking at your operations I had noticed, not without surprise, that you had even dug the unexcavated limits of the "Temple Area" thus obliterating all the stratigraphical evidence connected with the architectural remains along the edges of that area. True your Excavation did not proceed below the topmost floor but I should like to warn you that I should not like to see the stratification round the areas which I excavated for the Department obliterated.

3. Another observation that I made was that you have continued excavation in trenches, along the line of north sector of the city wall, where my own digging remained incomplete, without previous reference to me. In this connection I should like to draw your attention to the necessity to leave untouched all the stratigraphical evidence associated with the city wall in the trial trenches which I opened this year as well as the main area excavated by me on the south side of the city wall (north sector). The reason for this is that much study of the evidence discovered by me in that area will have to be re-studied and re-chequed by me in connection with the publication of my excavations.

4. I shall mention the contents of this letter to Dr. Schaeffer if I see him on arrival but I thought that it was necessary to draw your attention to the above in case he is delayed.

Yours sincerely,

Handwritten: signature

Ag. Director of Antiquities.

W. Forrer Esq., Enkomi Excavations, Enkomi.