This volume contains 33 papers presented at the 42th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale held at the University of Leuven in July 1995. The main purpose of the conference on Languages and Cultures in Contact was to focus on contacts and exchanges between the various cultures in the Syro-Mesopotamian realm by re-evaluating the geographical limits of 'Mesopotamian' civilization to include the Upper- and Middle-Euphrates regions of Syria. These proceedings cover areas of research in the fields of philology, archaeology and history alike. They bring together essays on a great number of topics, including comparative linguistics, the spread of literacy and administrative practices, cultural exchanges, diffusion and acculturation. Finally the book contains reports on current excavations and surveys in the Ancient Near East.