Simple:
* The old city was a palimpsest of different cultures, with layers of history visible in every street.
* The artist's latest work was a palimpsest, with faded images peeking through the new paint.
Figurative:
* Her memory was a palimpsest, with forgotten memories resurfacing occasionally.
* The novel explored the palimpsest of human experience, with past traumas and future hopes intertwined.
Specific:
* The ancient manuscript was a palimpsest, with the original text erased and overwritten with a later one.
* The archaeologist carefully examined the palimpsest, hoping to decipher the hidden text beneath the visible layer.
Literary:
* The poet used the metaphor of a palimpsest to describe the city's shifting identity.
* The novel's narrative structure resembled a palimpsest, with layers of time and perspective interweaving.
The key is to use "palimpsest" to describe something with multiple layers, where the earlier layers are still faintly visible beneath the newer ones.