Procedural Archeology
Besides graphics and numerous aspects, ‘Procedural’ is the secret sauce that makes anything and everything about No Man’s Sky feel most natural and realistic. But getting the details right is key…
And there’s numerous varieties of items to unearth, which is great, 
including these…
And then…
Further, only certain planets feature what the game calls Excavated Bones and Salvaged Scrap.
So, regardless of how well this works with the game mechanic of…
- “Hit the stars and seek out new planets”…
I think it would feel more natural and therefore realistic if ‘ALMOST ALL PLANETS’ feature at least a rare occurrence of bones, fossils, scrap, buried treasure, historical documents or anything otherwise being scattered ‘ALL ACROSS’ the entirety of all planetary surfaces.
Variable…
- Uninhabited Systems should ‘NOT’ feature items from past inhabitants.
- Abandon Systems however should feature items from past inhabitants.
Some planets could still be labeled as featuring an abundance of certain items, just as they are at present, and just as some planets could feature zero occurrence or any variable of occurrence in between. Yes, variable is a good thing, it is ‘procedural’.
Also, perhaps the differences between the ages of items could be revisited, especially between Excavated Bones and Fossil Samples, thus ensuring that fossils are truly and drastically older in age.
Unless I’m somehow overthinking it…
- “Wouldn’t this make more sense?”
Further…
There needs to be a logical reason for Colossal Buildings only accepting ‘Fossil Samples’ and no 'Excavated Bones." I mean, “Only big rewards for digging at buried ruins?” Shouldn’t buried ruins be special for more logical reasons, like lore and items involving the purpose of the actual ruins themselves? Or is that what these items are? If so, I struggle to see the connection, and perhaps it’s because “EVERY RUIN PROCEDURAL” does not yet apply to these specific types of ruins, “BUIRED RUINS,” and each look like some kind of alter to an unnamed god, and therefore I’m expecting the discovery of some type of treasured religious item, somehow native to the people. If these ‘Buried Ruins’ also had a chance of occurrence as business or residential structures, like places of work or dwellings, well then yes, perhaps I could more readily grasp the discovery of some of these items.
After all, it’s not like these items are just discovered in any random spot, they are as if very deliberately placed in chests and buried by the people…
And to be honest, I find that odd as well…
- That it is always this way,
- And what it is that’s buried.
Suggestion…
“EVERY BUIRED RUIN PROCEDURAL”
Otherwise, it feels very ‘samey’ and ‘illogical’, meaning unrealistic and can break emersion.
Consider…
- Does fauna and flora only die at ruins?
- Fossilized prepackaged in a loot chest?
- And/Or - Only dies on certain planets?
- Only place that ‘relics’ are left behind?
- & where certain ‘scraps’ are dropped?
No Man’s Sky would have us believe so. — But, “Why!?”
And I try to role-play it as sensible, but needs more logic — “Needs More Procedural” — Procedural is what sets NMS apart from all other games. — Archeology in NMS, “Needs more procedural!”
Further…
These new items have been a fun dig…
Only thing is, besides their procedural names,
- “What procedural designs?”
- “What procedural lore?”
- “What procedural date?”
They all look the same and read the same…
And at the very least…
Procedural Designs = “Variety is the Spice of Life”
While there’s numerous varieties of items to unearth, perhaps there should be greater variation, within each type. And further, these new fauna present numerous varieties, but could also use greater variation, within each type, as well. In other words, looks great, 
but now perhaps go further.
Conclusion
Consider revisiting the procedural nature of archeology in NMS.