The Secure Architecture of Immortality

The significance of these surviving personal archives, which were later integrated into historical collections, cannot be overstated. They offer scholars a rich, parallel perspective to the official Oriental Institute documentation. While the Institute’s records focus on scientific detail and excavation findings, von Busse’s personal collection often leans toward the aesthetic and the atmospheric, capturing the drama of the ruins under the Iranian sun and the stoicism of the people working there. This dual perspective is crucial for a holistic understanding of the expedition’s historical footprint.