Ar+chaeology is a combination of found object art, urban exploration and historic preservation.
Instead of buying raw materials from a store, some artists use objects they find as a way to conserve
resources and create unique works of art. The key difference between found-object art and
Ar+chaeology lies in the emphasis placed on where the objects were found. Ar+chaeologists
explore abandoned, culturally significant places searching for objects to represent that site.
These artifacts are extracted, cleaned and converted into artwork meant to promote a broader
appreciation of that site. In this respect, Ar+chaeology can be thought of as historic preservation
with artistic license. Especially in cases where the site is facing rapid deterioration via natural
elements or the wrecking ball, Ar+chaeology is the last line of defense- providing new life to
abandoned objects and new meaning to the places they came from. -M. GOSSER 2005