Archaeological knowledge is not derived solely from the discovery of artifacts, but from their technical and methodological analysis. Between the archaeological evidence and the historical narrative of the past lie numerous practices—from discovery through excavation and documentation to conservation, management, and analysis. These steps do not merely make past ways of life visible; they also play a decisive role in determining what conclusions about them are even possible. Techniques and practices are thus not merely tools of archaeological research, but prerequisites for the production of knowledge.
Building on this line of thought, this article examines the history of archaeological practices and techniques in the Graubünden Alpine region since the late 19th century. While accounts of the history of archaeology often focus on institutions, prominent figures, or spectacular discoveries, I am interested in the day-to-day work through which archaeological knowledge has emerged over time. How do new methods of prospecting and excavation change our view of the past? What role do forms of documentation, collections, and repositories play in the long-term production of archaeological knowledge? And how do the conditions for archaeological understanding change when information is standardized, archived, and made accessible across institutional or political boundaries?
The canton of Graubünden brings together, within a small area, a wide variety of archaeological sites and a history of settlement stretching from prehistory to modern times. At the same time, the collaboration among various stakeholders—the cantonal archaeological office, museums, research societies, universities, and dedicated amateurs—is particularly evident here. Graubünden is thus not a special case in archaeological practice, but it does serve as an insightful case study for examining the historical differentiation of archaeological methodologies and their technical prerequisites.
Throughout history, the Alpine region has not only been the subject of archaeological research but has also consistently served as a canvas for cultural and political ideas. It is precisely against this backdrop that we can ask how technical methods, on the one hand, generate new forms of archaeological evidence and, on the other hand, become integrated into shifting interpretations of the Alpine past.
A particular focus is placed on the documentation of archaeological findings. Every excavation irrevocably alters or destroys its subject of investigation. Drawings, photographs, surveys, samples, and datasets therefore serve to make the original context permanently traceable. They not only enable the reconstruction of past excavations but also lay the foundation for examining older finds in light of new research questions and analytical approaches. Documentation thus appears less as a mere record and more as an independent arena for the production of archaeological knowledge. Social practices that enable archaeological discoveries also play a special role in this context. In the Alpine region in particular, the search for archaeological sites has often relied—and continues to rely to this day—on the cooperation of laypeople. In order for their observations to be scientifically useful, they must be translated into standardized documentation and evaluation procedures. The professionalization of archaeology can therefore also be understood as the history of such acts of translation, in which local experiential knowledge, institutional routines, and technical procedures are brought together.
Methodologically, the project is conceived as a contribution to the history of science and technology. Studies on the technization of scientific practice have thus far often focused on the natural sciences or engineering. Archaeology, by contrast, offers a revealing case because it derives its historical conclusions from fragmentary material remains and is, in doing so, particularly reliant on technical methods of recording, documentation, and data organization. This article presents the project’s conceptual framework and discusses how the history of archaeological knowledge production in the Alpine region can be written from the perspective of its practices, techniques, and infrastructures.