Some recent discoveries, such as those of Ebla (modem Tell Mardikh), have shown that entire cultures can suddenly come to light and considerably alter the representation proposed by historians of a particular period orregion. More discoveries are to be expected, especially regarding the earlier periods. Nevertheless, the large number of excavations conducted in Iraq since the nineteenth century and the conditions under which written documents have survived indicate that on the whole the abundance of epigraphic sources for a particular period can be considered meaningful.