Letter from Megaw to Schaeffer on the purchase and ownership of the land to be excavatedArthur Hubert Stanley Megaw

Printed: Crest of the Royal arms

No. 49/48.

TELEPHONE No. XX 1000/76.

DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, CYPRUS.

Nicosia, 21st October, 1949.

Dear Schaeffer,

I write to confirm what I said when you enquired about the ownership of the land at Enkomi; expropriated with the help of funds contributed by the French Mission.

This land has so far been registered in the name of the Government of Cyprus, in accordance with various precedents. This course has been followed even where (as in one case at Curium) the Expedition excavating the site has provided the whole cost of the expropriation. The justification, as I understand it, is as follows:

(1) An archaeological expedition is usually an ephemeral body for which the assumption of the responsibilities of land ownership is inherently difficult. Such responsibilities include the payment of taxes, prevention of encroachments, the fighting of lawsuits and in the case of remains included on the list of "Ancient Monuments" (to which Alasia-Enkomi is about to be added) their preservation in proper condition.

(2) By registration in the name of the Cyprus Government, the responsibility for preservation (including structural conservation of the remains and the provision of guards) is assumed by the Government - in perpetuity - from the termination of the excavations. (Under the terms of our collaboration the Government has assumed these responsibilities during the excavations also). Such preservation reflects perpetual credit to the expedition concerned, which justifies the initial capital contribution it makes by sharing the cost of expropriation.

Nevertheless, I quite appreciate the view-point of your principals and if they so wish I shall raise the question on their behalf, with a view to separate registration of half the plots acquired. However, I should point out that certain difficulties might arise from the veto on registrations in the name of foreign Governments and the restrictions on registrations in the name of aliens.

If, on the other hand, your principals are content, in the light of the above explanations, to leave matters as they are, you may give them the following assurances:

(1) If after the close of our joint excavations any land jointly acquired is sold by the Government, the proceeds of sale will be divided between the Government and your principals in proportion to their contributions to its purchase. (2) If after the close of the joint excavations any land jointly acquired becomes the subject of an application to excavate made by a third party, no licence to excavate will be issued without prior reference to your principals. (3) I shall seek authority to pay into your excavation fund any rent received from the cultivators of land jointly acquired which is paid while the joint excavations are still in progress.

Yours sincerely,

Handwritten: signature

Dr. C.F.A.Schaeffer, M.A., D.Litt., Enkomi Excavations.

Handwritten: 8 (marginal annotation)