Spoils what may be of archaeological interest (5)

I believe the answer is:

ruins

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'spoils' is the definition.
(ruining is a kind of spoiling)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for ruins that I've seen before include "Rubble" , "Wrecks" , "Damages beyond repair" , "Broken-down remnants" , "Derelict buildings" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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