Letter from Schaeffer to Megaw on the organisation of the excavation siteClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

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… and the workmen do not work well if there is no place for them to shelter. I would also like one tent to be reserved for my staff and myself.

10 September 1947

I hope you can again lend the expedition George as foreman and one or two of your expert diggers. If so, the work at Enkomi could start about October 9th or 10th. We will thus escape the heat we had to endure last year and if the rains will not be unduly precocious I am looking forward to a fine autumn campaign. ----

I hope to arrive with Mrs. Schaeffer and my eldest daughter ex-lieutenant Odile, student at the Ecole du Louvre, as photographer and general secretary, towards end of October, and am looking forward to see you and Mrs. Megaw and the Dikaios' again. We can then discuss also the matter of a first combined season, if Dikaios is able to join us already this year.

I would be glad to know what steps have in the meantime, been taken with regard to the acquisition of the required plots; Schaeffer".

I am sending separately a copy of my provisional report of the 1946 season for your library, as printed matter.

Yours sincerely

with you a definite agreement which I am authorised to sign on behalf of the commission as secretary general. Some adjustments of the proposals set down in your Memorandum of October 1st, 1946, have been suggested and we shall discuss them when we next meet. The scheme could then operate immediately.

2. 1947 Expedition. I am sending my assistants ahead of me. In addition to Coche and Pironin you already know, there will be a second architect W.Forrer, son of the Hittitologue E.Forrer from Switzerland. They will leave Marseille by S.S. Providence on Sept.25th, arrive at Beyrouth october 2nd or 3rd, and at Nicosia, by air, a day or two later. Please pay M. Coche £109/0/0 from the £300/0/0 I had sent the Department from Barclay's Famagusta. After contact with you and Dikaios, they will leave for Famagusta to begin work at Enkomi as soon as possible. Before I arrive they can start on the South town wall, plot 352, where there is only one level and the rock table very near the surface. I would like this wall traced further to the west and then east. Coche will be in charge of the archaeological observations, Pironin and Forrer will look after the surveys. I shall give them detailed instructions and make funds available at Barclay's for paying the workmen. If there should be any unusual surprise find they will wire you and Dikaios to come to Enkomi.

In order that no time is lost, I would be grateful to you and Dikaios to get tools and all the usual material ready. In addition, I would be glad if you could have prepared at least 4 tents instead of the one of last year. We shall have some rain

A.H. Megaw Esq., Director of the Department of Antiquities, Nicosia, Cyprus.