Letter from Megaw to Schaeffer on continuing work at Enkomi and funds received from the ConsulArthur Hubert Stanley Megaw

Printed: Telephone No. 61

No.....90/48 (handwritten: 90/48)

Printed: coat of arms

DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, CYPRUS.

Nicosia, 30th December, 1948.

Dear Dr. Schaeffer,

Yesterday I was down at Engomi, where Dikaios has resumed digging after the Christmas holidays. You will doubtless be interested to hear what has been happening since I wrote on the 10th December. In the eastward extension from his initial trench he has found more of the large blocks (again showing earthquake dislodgement), which as he opens out are taking shape as an important building, of which the lower courses are in masonry as good as the best discovered in your excavations, and perhaps better preserved. Its south wall, with an entrance, has been found but its extent in other directions is not yet clear. The topmost floors, which are of LC III, are being laid bare.

The area has been much cut-about with robber pits and in emptying these glimpses are obtained of the stratification, going down to Middle Bronze. Finds at this early stage have not been numerous but include one which may be regarded as a major achievement for the Joint Expedition. This is a small male statue in bronze, 55 cms. high, naked but for a loin-cloth and wearing a headdress with bull's horns, which Dikaios presumes to represent Baal. It was found on a floor in the LC III level but we feel it must have been made in an earlier period.

This find suggests that we have hit upon either a temple or a major building containing a sanctuary. But it is still early to draw conclusions of this kind. It is perhaps significant that none of the robber pits so far found hit tombs. Dikaios will no doubt write to you when he closes down the present campaign, which will be perhaps in a fortnight's time, when the position should be much clearer.

We have received a further credit for your account of £118.15.0 from M. Lapierre. This brings the balance, after paying your contribution to the cost of all the acquisitions so far decided on, up to £228.8.2. All the properties in question have now been transferred, but these do not include the field into which your north trench building extends and in which Dikaios' present excavations are situated, for the most part.

With best wishes for 1949,

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.).