Objects embedded in Brooklyn's asphalt

Flickr user STR820 has a beautiful photoset of found objects embedded in Brooklyn asphalt. There's a handsome incongruity in seeing everyday contemporary objects in such archaeological postures, as though the future ruins of our civilization have travelled backward in time to the present day. Link (Thanks, Mike!)

[#1 posted by alexeck , January 27, 2008 10:48 AM]

Very cool! Although I do wish auto shops would stop using lead balance weights. I see them regularly on asphalt as they fall off of wheels. (interesting stuff at http://www.leadfreewheels.org/)

[#2 posted by Xenu , January 27, 2008 11:04 AM]

Life imitates Seinfeld?

[#3 posted by js7a , January 27, 2008 11:15 AM]

As though the future ruins of our civilization have traveled backward in time to the present day?

Wouldn't they be more futuristic looking?

[#4 posted by racergreg , January 27, 2008 11:57 AM]

There's a handsome incongruity in seeing everyday contemporary objects in such archaeological postures, as though the future ruins of our civilization have travelled backward in time to the present day.

Cory, that's the most awesome sentence I've read in a month. Wow.

Thanks for the post.

[#5 posted by Mario Fischer , January 27, 2008 12:14 PM]

Maybe we can do this with a windows vista CD? Back to where it comes from... ;-)

[#6 posted by operator99 , January 27, 2008 12:50 PM]

Wabi Sabi comes to mind - love the idea.

[#7 posted by Halloween Jack , January 27, 2008 1:45 PM]

the future ruins of our civilization have travelled backward in time to the present day.

For that, it needs the ruined head of the Statue of Liberty buried in the ground. Or a self-Polaroid of a sentient cockroach.

[#8 posted by jerry6 , January 27, 2008 2:43 PM]

you found my keys !!

[#9 posted by garyb50 , January 27, 2008 3:34 PM]

Kudos for looking down.

[#10 posted by loudiamondphillips , January 27, 2008 5:59 PM]

That is some handsome shit right there.

[#11 posted by Wickedashtray , January 27, 2008 6:58 PM]

must....touch....textures....

[#12 posted by Georgia Tills , January 27, 2008 7:53 PM]

LOL, somebody locked themselves out!

[#13 posted by Takuan , January 27, 2008 7:56 PM]

now that the art value is established I will be investing in a gas driven diamond saw. Expect to hit some remarkably symmetrical potholes.

[#14 posted by nialldebuitlear , January 28, 2008 2:23 AM]

I took a load of photos of stuff embedded in roads in Dublin when I was at college - here's a link to some of my images
http://www.p-art-icles.com/niallartsite/street.html

[#15 posted by airship , January 28, 2008 6:59 AM]

I remember when I was a kid we would dig up $100 worth of asphalt to retrieve an embedded quarter. Now I won't even bend over to pick one up from the sidewalk. *sigh*

[#16 posted by Moon , January 28, 2008 7:05 AM]

I don't think there will be much discovery by the future people. These roads, sidewalks, etc. are dug up on a regular basis and the material is usually recycled.

Sorry, future people. You are gonna have to do it the hard way, by digging in a desert.

[#17 posted by Robert , January 28, 2008 8:47 AM]

BTW... the vast majority of the items is contractor trash. Broken tools, nuts, bolts, sawblades, other metal bric-a-brac, beer cans. Kind of puts a different slant on the pictures.