Mapping Difficult Heritage: Digital Documentation of Colonial Traces in Austrian Urbanscapes

The project “Mapping Difficult Heritage: Digital Documentation of Colonial Traces in Austrian Urbanscapes” focuses on the digital documentation and analysis of colonial traces in Austrian urban spaces. It addresses an existing research gap and aims to make the material presence of colonial legacies in public spaces visible while archiving them as long-term research data. By doing so, the project contributes significantly to the emerging field of Austrian colonial historiography and fosters critical engagement with challenging historical heritage. 

About the Project 

The project is based on a pilot study conducted during the winter semester 2025/26 in collaboration between the Graz Institute of History and the House of Austrian History (hdgö). Teacher training students from the University of Graz will investigate colonial traces in Styria through systematic archival and library research as well as public space analysis. The collected data will be digitally processed and stored in a CMS database hosted by the Austrian National Library. 

The database will be made available as an interactive online map and as a data package via Zenodo, adhering to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Each site of memory will be described through a TEI file containing detailed information about the location, its history, and metadata about the authors. Geographic data in GML format will enable the visual representation of the locations on the map. 

In addition to data collection and provision, the project includes the preparation of a third-party funding application, which is planned for submission in spring 2026. The aim is to expand the research nationwide and establish a research group operating at multiple locations. In the long term, the database is intended to serve as a central resource for Austrian colonial historiography and facilitate further research projects.