Palimpsest

A palimpsest originally referred to a manuscript where the original writing had been erased or scraped away to make room for new text. However, traces of the earlier writing often remain visible. In a broader context, the term can apply to any object, culture, or landscape that bears the marks of its past, with layers of history overlapping and influencing each other. This concept highlights how the past continues to shape the present, just as old texts inform new interpretations, creating a rich tapestry of meaning in art, architecture, and society.