The 1930s expedition itself represented a different kind of power: the influence of Western institutions in shaping the historical narrative of non-Western civilizations. Herzfeld’s team, backed by the Oriental Institute, brought immense resources and a specific scholarly framework to the site. Von Busse’s photographs, therefore, are dual records—documenting the ancient Persian power while simultaneously illustrating the contemporary power of American and German archaeology. The very act of scientifically excavating and publishing the site was a process of securing and controlling the knowledge about this ancient civilization.
