Letter from Megaw to Schaeffer on divergent interpretations of the chronologyArthur Hubert Stanley Megaw

Printed: GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS

Printed: DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, NICOSIA.

Handwritten/stamp at top right: 57/50

12th July, 1950

Dear Schaeffer,

I am now able to write further in reply to your letters about Dhikaios' report (of the 22nd June to me and that of 20th June to Dhikaios and me jointly), also to reply to your letters of 28th June and 2nd and 7th July about publication plans. For which many thanks.

Interpretation. Dhikaios has sent me the enclosed notes on your analysis of his report. You will note that in regard to some points on which you base your criticism of his chronology, his report did not present the facts with sufficient clarity with the result that misapprehensions have arisen. In these cases facts faced by the real facts your criticisms do not have the same weight. His text must where necessary be revised to make these facts quite clear. In other cases your criticisms have exposed weaknesses in argument and presentation which had escaped my notice and which must be put right in any event. Among these are -

(1) (p.5 of your analysis). Inconsistent interpretations of similar conditions in layers on Floor V in Room VI and Room XIV, both of which would seem to post-date the fire.

(2) (pp.6 & 15). The Philistine seal and other material found above Floor V which was cleaned after the fire, does not prove the date of the original use of that floor.

On the

Dr. C.F.A. Schaeffer, M.A., D.Litt., Le Castel Blanc, 34, Germain-en-Laye.