Enigma rebus: Prolegomena to an archaeology of algorithmic artefacts

The following article contains preliminary thoughts towards the definition of a necessary novel discipline, the archaeology of algorithmic artefacts. It strives to provide a definition of these artefacts, particularly of algorithmic ones, to describe some general trends in their (ontogenetic and phyloge- netic) development, and to work out a methodology for their resurrection, which proceeds theoretically and practically at the same time. In this end- eavour, the little creature ‘Odradek’ invented by Kafka serves as an emblem for the enigmatic state of artefacts before they become and after they have been effective; as a demonstrational object for methods of their resurrection; and as an example for the transcription of technical schemata, by locating several inventions in which this particular set-up reappears.1