Letter from Megaw to Schaeffer on publication funding and the next seasonArthur Hubert Stanley Megaw

Printed: coat of arms

No.36/36/2 [handwritten: 36/36/2 handwritten after "No."]

DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES. CYPRUS.

Nicosia, 13th March, 1948.

Dear Dr. Schaeffer,

In forwarding the enclosed letter I must apologise for the delay in obtaining this formal approval by the Cyprus Government of the scheme for combined operations at Engomi which we drew up. There was no disagreement regarding the general principles of our scheme, but the financial implications gave some difficulty.

You will note that the Government has felt obliged to limit its future commitment on publication. I feel however, and I hope you agree, that the net loss of £500 which it is prepared to sustain over its share of the cost of publication is not unsatisfactory. After all we may foresee a substantial demand for the publication on excavations of such importance, though it is perhaps too much to expect that there will be no loss at all.

It now remains for you to communicate to the Colonial Secretary the approval of the scheme by the Commissioner des Fouilles, which I understand you are already authorised to do. That done, when the weather is better and Dikaios fit again (he has been on the sick-list for some weeks and has been ordered a complete rest) we can proceed with arrangements for our first season's work. If you postpone your next campaign till the autumn we would propose to fit ours in before, whenever availability of labour permits.

The time has perhaps come when you will wish to announce the plan for future collaboration at Engomi. I think you spoke of sending me a draft announcement so that an agreed text could be issued simultaneously in Cyprus. We would like this announcement to be made before our first excavations start, so as to explain our trespass on your site!

Please give our best regards to Mme. Schaeffer and your daughter.

Yours sincerely,

Handwritten: signature

Dr. C.F.A.Schaeffer, M.A.,D.Litt., Courrier 14 rue Turgot, St. Germain-en-Laye, France (S.et O.)

YCS.