Ernst Herzfeld (1879-1948) played a crucial role in the development of Near Eastern studies at a time when it was undergoing disciplinary and institutional change and against the backdrop of dramatic political changes in the host countries of research and in Europe. Gunter (curator for ancient Near Eastern art and head of research, Freer and Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Institution, US) and Hauser (a senior researcher at the U. of Halle, Germany) present 20 papers originally delivered at an eponymous May 2001 symposium, which aimed to reexamine the contributions of Herzfeld to Near Eastern studies, as well as to place them in the broader intellectual, institutional, and political frameworks of his era. Papers discuss his work at key archaeological sites such as Persepolis, his contribution to the historiography of Persian civilization, and his scholarship related to Byzantine and Islamic art history. The final six contributions consider aspects of Near Eastern studies, cultural politics, and archaeological ethics. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)