Definition: noun  1: writing material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased  2: something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface

Etymology: Latin palimpsestus, from Greek palimpsēstos scraped again, from palin + psēn to rub, scrape; akin to Sanskrit psāti, babhasti he chews

Quotation: “Zadar, he said ‘is like a palimpsest — an old parchment with old inscriptions being erased and new ones inscribed.’”
- from the Travel Section of The New York Times

Alright, maybe it’s a crappy quote, but what do you want from me? Credit to Clay for the suggestion.