This paper continues an argument begun in "Why Quantum Mechanics Makes Sense", which explores the conditions under which a physical world can define and communicate any kind of information. Since it appears that nearly all of what’s known in our most fundamental theories may be needed to do this, the question arises as to how such a complex, many-leveled system of rules and principles could have emerged from much simpler initial conditions. Following the earlier treatment of Quantum Mechanics, the initial state of the universe is taken to be a plenum of unconstrained (and therefore structureless) possibility. Any sort of system can emerge, in these conditions, so long as it’s able to define all its constraints in terms of each other – as our observable universe does. I attempt an "archaeological" analysis of currently known physics into component layers of self-defining structure, each of which can be understood as emergent on the basis of previously established constraints. I also consider how this kind of reconstruction might relate to our currently well-established Concordance Model of the early history of our universe.
