Tankerville James Chamberlayne: a singular pioneer in the revealing of Cyprus’ past
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524.5 KB
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Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
Kiely, Thomas
Merrillees, Robert S.
Date published
July 1, 2021
Abstract
Major Tankerville James Chamberlayne was a British army officer, Colonial official and amateur antiquarian and who saw service in Cyprus from 1886 to 1908 and ended his career as District Commissioner in Kyrenia. Though lacking a university education, his fluent knowledge of French inclined him to take a strong interest in the remains of the Frankish period in Cyprus and carry out detailed, independent research, resulting in two pioneering catalogues, Lacrimae Nicossienses and Le Trésor dou Morf, both of which he had published in French. It was the first time this kind of data had been assembled and made public, and he demonstrated in his handling of archaeological matters a more ethical approach than the prevailing norm. This applied as much to his collecting as to his administrative activities, and he was well known for sharing his knowledge with all‑comers. While self-taught and decidedly idiosyncratic, he established for himself a widely known academic reputation in Cyprus and was highly regarded by scholars outside the island, particularly in France, and his works have never lost their value. The fate of his private papers, which might contain further information, is unknown.
Journal title
Cahiers du Centre d'Etudes Chypriotes
Publisher
OpenEdition
ISSN
0761-8271
eISSN
2647-7300
Official URL
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