Exchange and Reuse in Roman Palmyra

A century of excavations and recent digital advancements have revealed that Palmyra's economy thrived through strategic material reuse, routine exchanges, and institutional frameworks. This study highlights how the city managed resources sustainably, using materials like coins, glass, metal, and textiles in circular ways, rather than wastefully. It introduces new methodologies to estimate Palmyra’s population size and reassesses its economic institutions, offering fresh insights into post-Roman building activities across Egypt. The research leverages unprecedented access to artifacts—inscriptions, statues, tesserae—to unravel the complexities of Palmyrene consumption and trade.

Andrade, N., & Raja, R. (Eds.). (2023). Exchange and Reuse in Roman Palmyra. Studies in Palmyrene Archaeology and History. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.spah-eb.5.132026