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Paper short abstract

Hyperarchaeology or archaeology without material culture is newly-coined terms focused on new spaces, new heritage and new numismatics. The paper focuses on nature within AI-generated art, AR such as Pokemon Go and digital albums Animal Kingdom/Životinjsko carstvo.

Paper long abstract

According to UNESCO’s Charter on the Preservation of Digital Heritage (2003), digital heritage includes “cultural, educational, scientific, and administrative resources, as well as technical, legal, medical, and other kinds of information created digitally, or converted into digital form from existing analogue resources.”

I propose the term hyperarchaeology as a conceptual framework for understanding these emergent phenomena, drawing from hyperhistory (L. Floridi), hyperobjects (T. Morton), and the technological idea of hyperlinks. Hyperarchaeology can be defined as archaeology without material culture.

The first section explores virtual reality (VR), holograms, and digital avatars—spaces where physical boundaries dissolve and new forms of immersive exploration emerge. Rather than focusing on VR simulations of existing sites, I examine newly-created VR spaces as potential archaeological sites and heritage. Similarly, holograms and digital avatars are treated as original forms of heritage, not reconstructions. A key case study is Pokémon GO, an augmented-reality game where players encounter avatars overlaid on real-world locations.

The second section investigates non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and AI-generated art. The digital album Igraonica mirrors a 2016 print album in content but adds interactivity—quizzes, exchange pages—blending digital and traditional heritage.

The third chapter analyzes the disruptive influence of cryptocurrencies on numismatics. For example, Spanish olive oil brand Castillo de Canena uses blockchain (TrustOS by Telefónica Tech) to certify the authenticity and traceability of its products.

The paper’s central aim is to analyze the nature and representations of nature within hyperarchaeology through selected digital case studies.