oa Lost Cities in the Near East: Reassembling Knowledge through Archival Research and Excavation Documentation

This article examines reconstruction processes of knowledge concerning some of the ‘lost cities’ of Western Asia, using Palmyra and Samarra, two prominent urban sites as case studies. These cities offer distinct insights into how early explorations by Western travellers and antiquarians, and archaeological practices under different political regimes have shaped the narratives about their urban histories, and how their practices continue to influence contemporary understandings of these cities in modern scholarly thought. By examining archaeological and historical literature, archival research, and excavation documentation on these cities, this article reveals in which ways research has given more attention to certain historical periods while marginalizing — consciously or not — others.