Boromir and his search for Rivendell

[Faramir Jones]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Except that Denethor plainly didn't know: "All he could tell me was that Imladris was the name of a far northern dell where Elrond and Half-elven dwelt."

Minas Tirith's archives would have been little use regarding Tar-Minastir's expeditionary force and the First War of the Rings (4500 years before), since all of Numenor's records were lost in the Downfall.

That's not quite true, William. There are hints in the Akallabêth and 'A Description of the Island of Númenor' in Unfinished Tales that some records were saved by the Faithful. Also, perhaps some of the Faithful who survived might have noted down what they themselves remembered, or what they remember other people talking about, from the records.

I would certainly agree that the vast majority of records were lost in the Downfall, and that there were large gaps in the knowledge of those who survived.