In each of my snapshot TARs that I’ve delved into to try to find my configuration.yaml I’ve found automations.yaml, secrets.yaml, scripts.yaml etc etc etc but not the all important configuration.yaml. Got me thinking…maybe it’s stored somewhere else?!
humph. Well in that case HA (at least in the version I was running, was from February I think) had a major bug in that it gave every indication of creating successful snapshots but actually wasn’t doing. 
I’ve potentially lots months of progress.
Thanks for the help! 