Like the Anthology project that it lampooned, it featured tracks ostensibly from all periods of the Rutles' career, sequenced to reflect the fictional band's chronology.

Innes performed two sold-out gigs at Los Angeles's Troubadour Club under the name "Ron Nasty & The New Rutles", using a local Beatles tribute band.

The Japanese release of Archaeology includes 4 bonus tracks: "Lullaby", "Baby S'il Vous Plait", "It's Looking Good" (rehearsal), and "My Little Ukulele".

"Baby S'il Vous Plait" and "It's Looking Good" were also issued (along with the LP version of "Joe Public") on a UK CD single and 10" of "Shangri-La."

"Lullaby" is a brief musical gag from Innes's own live act re-recorded as though it were Ron Nasty amusing the studio staff.

On 19 February 2007 EMI Gold (UK) released a budget reissue of Archaeology with new cover artwork and five bonus tracks: The aforementioned "Lullaby," "My Little Ukulele," and "Baby S'il Vous Plait" surfaced again, and two previously unreleased numbers; "Under My Skin", a cover of Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin" performed with some mock half-forgotten lyrics to suggest the Beatles' Star Club era and "Rut-A-Lot", a medley of Rutles songs performed live by Innes, presented as a jab at Idle's recently successful Spamalot.

", "Easy Listening", "Now She's Left You", "The Knicker Elastic King" Side 2: "I Love You", "Eine Kliene Middle Klasse Music", "Joe Public", "Shangri-La", "Don't Know Why", "Back n 64" "Archaeology"/ Virgin Records / C.D.