Track and Trace, and Other Collaborative Art/Archaeology Bubbles in the Phygital Pandemic

Abstract This paper describes our creative responses to a surface assemblage (a scatter) of lithic artefacts encountered on either side worn track across field early in the pandemic. Our art/archaeology response takes place within phygital nexus which or assemblages can be instantiated physically digitally, both. In we create, connect and explore an ontological multiplicity – more less physical digital skeuomorphs other standard forms records for sharing (i.e. Latour’s immutable mobiles, such as photographs), but rendered with radically different properties affordances, at scales, apparatus. These include interactive Reflectance Transformation Images, graphical models, machine intelligence style transfer, 3D prints, all were produced variety isolated analytical “bubble” settings transmitted from (both digitally physically) home office Hampshire village studio London suburb. approach is describe, diffractively, shifts itineraries associated some these objects assess how this came matter installation. Ultimately, deterritorialised, (re)colourised, affective, biodegradable, diffractively born metamorphic instars, now inscribed new meanings, are returned original findspot lithics (re)discovered.