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Arqueología y Sociedad
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This is a review essay by Manuel Gándara of a compiled volume of Luis G. Lumbreras's articles on social archaeology, published in *Chungará (Arica)*. Gándara traces Lumbreras's trajectory from cultural-historical archaeology toward a Marxist-inspired "arqueología social" and evaluates his substantive theory on the origin of classes, the state, and urbanism.
Key findings
- The volume gathers Lumbreras's articles into seven chapters plus a photographic annex, organized thematically rather than chronologically, documenting a trajectory rather than a unified viewpoint; Gándara notes the approach becomes "cada vez más congruente" toward the end.
- Gándara argues that in early works Lumbreras opposes classical cultural history but, by relying on Childe, retains a normative model of culture ("las culturas reflejan normas," p.75), creating a latent tension with a fully Marxist position (e.g., that of Felipe Bate) that the volume never clearly resolves.
- Lumbreras's substantive theory holds the Neolithic revolution as precondition (p.265); specialists in irrigation and the calendar generate a first social division of labor, and "las clases sociales, la ciudad y el Estado aparecen, pues, juntos como consecuencia de una misma causa originaria" (p.271). This process occurred in the Andes between 500 a.C. and 500 d.C., leading to a second, "Arcaico" state type dominated by warfare specialists (pp.272-3).
- Gándara raises unresolved questions: whether environment again becomes the key variable, whether demographic models and Carneiro's (1970) "circunscripción" are reintroduced (and uncited), and how preindustrial warfare would relieve resource pressure.
Methods
- Book review essay (reseña) synthesizing and critiquing the compiled volume; no empirical data or sample of its own.
- The reviewer states he concentrates on selected themes "sin duda reflejo de mis propios intereses más que de la propia riqueza interna de los textos," and that a full theoretical analysis is beyond the review's scope (referring to Gándara 1992).
Limitations
- Stated by the reviewer: the absence of a closing postscript means "no siempre es fácil intuir la última opinión de Lumbreras sobre algunos temas"; several original articles lack citations to the authors and concepts used (e.g., "teoría de la observación," "circunscripción," "sociedad clasista inicial"), making sources hard to trace; and the editorial design does not typographically separate articles or place article information near titles.
- Evident from the text: the review is explicitly selective and space-limited, and its critique of Lumbreras's theory is offered as preliminary rather than a detailed theoretical analysis.
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0 of 2 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Probably not a substantial claim. 37
- It may state two separate claims as one. 17
- The quote only partly states this claim. 2
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingnone givenIn epistemology, Lumbreras separates from cultural history and the assumptions of theoretical neutrality of empirical data, and recovers the concept of 'theory of observation'.
“Irónicamente, en lo epistemológico Lumbreras no duda en separarse de la historia cultural y los supuestos de neutralidad teórica de los datos empíricos, e incluso recupera el concepto de”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim.
FindingreasoningThe process will lead to the installations required by the specialists becoming the nucleus of future urban centres.
“El proceso llevará a que las instalaciones requeridas por los especialistas se constituyan en el núcleo de los futuros centros urbanos”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningIn some cases, the Neolithic revolution led to the creation of exchange networks and the complexification of productive and distributive processes, which in turn led to the appearance of hierarchical societies.
“En algunos casos, esto llevó a la creación de redes de intercambio y la complejización de procesos productivos y distributivos, lo que a su vez condujo a la aparición de sociedades jerarquizadas.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Findingnone givenLumbreras proposed in 1974 to bring academic practice closer to political practice by incorporating historical materialism as a frame of reference for both.
“complementan la toma de posición que el autor inaugurara desde 1974 cuando propuso acercar la práctica académica a la práctica política al incorporar el materialismo histórico como marco de referencia para ambas.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Findingnone givenSocial archaeology has followed curiously parallel routes in the different Iberoamerican countries where it developed.
“En cierto sentido, son ilustrativos de la propia trayectoria de la arqueología social, que ha seguido rutas curiosamente paralelas en los diferentes países iberoamericanos en los que se desarrolló.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim.
Findingnone givenThe articles are presented as they appeared, except for obligatory corrections of typographical errors and some formal issues.
“El autor y los editores han decidido que los artículos se presenten tal como aparecieron (salvo por las obligadas correcciones a errores tipográficos y algunas cuestiones formales)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningThe articles that compose the volume represent different moments in the development of the author's position, documenting a trajectory rather than a unified point of view.
“Los artículos que componen el volumen representan momentos diferentes en el desarrollo de la posición del autor, por lo que documentan más una trayectoria que un punto de vista unificado”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim.
Findingnone givenThe volume compiles texts that document Lumbreras's trajectory from cultural-history archaeology to social archaeology inspired by Marxism, and the successive adjustments, amplifications and applications of this theoretical position.
“Por primera vez tenemos reunidos textos que documentan el trayecto de Lumbreras desde sus inconformidades con la arqueología de historia cultural (en la que se formó), hacia su formulación de la arqueología social, inspirada en el marxismo; y de los sucesivos ajustes, ampliaciones y aplicaciones de esta posición teórica a diferentes ámbitos: desde aquellos relacionados a la obtención e interpretac”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
FindingreasoningIn Lumbreras's theory, it is in situations more adverse to cultivation that the conditions for change occur, via the development of new technologies requiring specialists (irrigation and calendar specialists) that permit agricultural intensification.
“Pero parece que es en situaciones más adversas al cultivo en donde se darán las condiciones para el cambio, vía el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías que requieren de especialistas, y que permitirán la intensificación agrícola: entre ellos, los especialistas en riego y en el calendario.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Findingnone givenIn Lumbreras's conception, cultures reflect norms whose location must be mental, though socially shared.
“finalmente las culturas reflejan normas (p.75), cuya ubicación debe ser mental, aunque se compartan socialmente.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningSociety will split into social classes, separated by a different participation in the productive process and with unequal relations of production and consumption.
“Es decir, la sociedad se escindirá en clases sociales, separadas por una diferente participación en el proceso productivo, y con relaciones desiguales de producción y consumo (p.267).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingcitationThis social split will only happen in (a) conditions where it is not feasible to depend on other alternative resources (such as hunting and fishing) as principal conditions of reproduction, or (b) conditions where progressively more complex technical processes are not required.
“Pero esto solamente sucederá en (a) condiciones en las que no es factible depender de otros recursos alternativos (como la caza y la pesca) como condiciones principales de la reproducción; o (b) en los que no se requiera de procesos técnicos progresivamente más complejos (Ibid)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one. The quote only partly states this claim.
Findingnone givenAlthough explicit mention is made of the term 'Initial classist society', the respective theory (or its author, Felipe Bate) is not mentioned.
“Lo cierto es que aunque se hace mención explícita del término”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Felipe Bate [1984]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
FindingcitationIn Lumbreras's theory, the precondition for the process is the Neolithic revolution.
“La precondición para el proceso es la revolución neolítica (p.265)”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningIn method, Lumbreras points out the deficiencies of a totally inductive orientation and holds that archaeology must incorporate deduction, induction and even transduction (analogy).
“En el área del método (Capítulo 5), no duda en señalar las deficiencias que caracterizan a un enfoque totalmente de orientación inductiva.La arqueología, como bien reconoce, debe incorporar la deducción, la inducción e incluso la transducción (o analogía).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim.
FindingreasoningThe appearance of an apparatus of control in favour of a class accelerated the development of this new infrastructure.
“La aparición de un aparato de control, a favor de una clase, agilizó el desarrollo de esta nueva infraestructura”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
FindingreasoningLumbreras distances himself clearly from two extreme positions: the narrow inductivism of traditional archaeology and the equally narrow deductivism of certain variants of processual archaeology.
“Con ello, se deslinda claramente de dos posiciones extremas: la inductivista estrecha, de la arqueología tradicional, y la deductivista igualmente estrecha, de ciertas variantes de la arqueología procesual.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Findingnone givenFor Lumbreras, these initial states seem to have been owners of both the labour force and the land itself.
“Es interesante señalar que para Lumbreras, estos estados iniciales parecen haber sido propietarios tanto de la fuerza de trabajo como de la propia tierra”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingnone givenThe book is organized in seven chapters and a photographic annex.
“El libro se organiza en siete capítulos y un anexo fotográfico.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingnone givenFrom the 1980s, Lumbreras's proposal on the origin of classes began to take a clearer form, recovering part of the Childean tradition: the role of specialists.
“A partir de los años ochenta esa propuesta empezó a tomar una forma más clara, que recuperaba parte de la tradición childeana: el papel de los especialistas.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningThese specialists require a dedication of time that separates them from the direct productive process, generating a first social division of labour.
“Estos especialistas requieren una dedicación de tiempo que los separa del proceso productivo directo, lo que genera una primera división social del trabajo”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim.
FindingreasoningFor Lumbreras, social classes, the city and the State appear together as a consequence of the same original cause.
“por lo que para Lumbreras,”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
FindingreasoningThis process occurred in the Andes between 500 BC and 500 AD.
“Este proceso se dio en los Andes entre los años 500 a.C. y 500 d.C.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningThe organization of the book is thematic rather than chronological, seeking coherence of chapters rather than presenting works in their original order of writing.
“Así, la organización del libro es más bien temática que cronológica, dado que se buscó darle coherencia a los capítulos más que simplemente presentar, en el orden de su escritura original, una lista indiferenciada de trabajos”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
FindingreasoningIn Lumbreras's proposal, specialists played a crucial structural role in the development of complex societies, being responsible for two fundamental technologies in several cases of archaic states: water control and calendar control.
“Especialistas que no eran”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningIn some publications, Lumbreras does not include references to the authors he uses, which makes it difficult for the reader to trace the source of some concepts.
“al tratarse quizá de textos más bien destinados a la divulgación, Lumbreras no incluye referencias a los autores que usa.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningThe growth of these first states led, in conditions of circumscription and under continuous demographic increase, to some of these states that Lumbreras calls 'primary' becoming expansive, taking war as a mechanism for the extension of their power, and finally leading to a second type of state that he calls 'Archaic'.
“El crecimiento de estos primeros estados llevó, en condiciones de circunscripción y bajo un continuo aumento demográfico, a que algunos de estos estados que él llama”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
FindingreasoningLumbreras denigrates 'artificial stratigraphy' by metric levels and analytical procedures that could be called 'univariate'.
“Claramente denosta la”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
FindingreasoningThis second type of state depends on a new specialist, the war specialist, whose estate finally dominates the whole state.
“Este segundo tipo de estado depende de un nuevo especialista, el especialista en la guerra, cuyo estamento finalmente domina al conjunto del estado.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Interpretationnone givenLumbreras's proposal is much richer than the present synthesis allows to present.
“La propuesta es mucho más rica que lo que esta apretada síntesis permite presentar aquí”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Interpretationnone givenThe Childean position was superior to those against which Lumbreras polemicizes.
“Sin duda, la posición childeana era superior a aquellas contra las que Lumbreras polemiza.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
InterpretationreasoningLumbreras is increasingly closer to achieving a theory of the origin of classes that transcends a narration of the Andean case.
“Creo que Lumbreras está cada vez más cerca de lograrlo.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
InterpretationreasoningThese conditions would explain why the process did not occur, for example, in Amazonia.
“estas condiciones explicarían por qué el proceso no se dio, por ejemplo en la Amazonia.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
InterpretationreasoningThis book is a measure of the importance of Lumbreras's contribution to the discipline.
“Este libro es una medida de la importancia de la contribución de Lumbreras a la disciplina”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one. The quote only partly states this claim.
InterpretationreasoningLumbreras does not resort to proposing that the method to follow is the 'Marxist method', because that would reveal a confusion between method and theory and because Marxist theory is evaluable, like any other theory, through the general scientific method.
“Es también notorio que no recurre a la muletilla (errónea, en mi opinión) de proponer que el método a seguir es el”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Kuhn (1971)
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.
InterpretationreasoningThe remaining questions indicate that we are finally approaching something that seems to be an authentic explanatory theory.
“la lista de cuestionamientos posibles es larga, pero lo único que eso indica es que nos acercamos finalmente a algo que parece ser una auténtica teoría explicativa.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimIt may state two separate claims as one.
InterpretationreasoningLumbreras opposes classical cultural history but, by relying on Childe, assumes Childe's normative model of culture.
“En ese sentido, Lumbreras se opone a la historia cultural clásica, pero al apoyarse en Childe asume, como efecto inevitable, su modelo normativo de la cultura”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
InterpretationreasoningLumbreras cannot be accused of being a theorist who 'never went to the field' or who 'ignores the data', two arguments that have been wielded against social archaeology.
“a Lumbreras no se le puede acusar de ser un teórico que”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
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Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Conflicting conditions for the emergence of specialists
MinorThe account says adverse agricultural conditions prompted new technologies requiring specialists, but then says the process occurs where progressively more complex technical processes are not required.
“Pero esto solamente sucederá en (a) condiciones en las que no es factible depender de otros recursos alternativos (como la caza y la pesca) como condiciones principales de la reproducción; o (b) en los que no se requiera de procesos técnicos progresivamente más complejos (Ibid)”
“Pero parece que es en situaciones más adversas al cultivo en donde se darán las condiciones para el cambio, vía el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías que requieren de especialistas, y que permitirán la intensificación agrícola”
Bate citation year conflicts with the listed reference
MinorThe text cites Bate as 1984 when discussing the theory of the initial class society, while the reference with that subject is dated 1974; no Bate 1984 entry is listed.
“la teoría respectiva (o su autor, hasta donde me doy cuenta, Felipe Bate [1984]), no se menciona.”
“1974 Hipótesis sobre la sociedad clasista inicial. Boletín de Antropología Americana 9:47-86.”
Citations
Cites
Archaeological Systematics and the Study of Culture Process
Binford, L. R. (1965) · American Antiquity · doi:10.2307/2693985 · Cited by 550
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Masini, N., Orefici, G., & Rojas, J. L. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47052-8_11 · Cited by 8
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Metadata
- Authors
- Gándara, M.
- Corresponding author
- Gándara, Manuel
- Venue
- Chungará (Arica)
- Published
- 2006-06
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 0716-1182 (ISSN-L)
- 0717-7356
- OpenAlex
- W2086368948
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Chungara (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Americanae (AECID Library) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Redalyc (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Keywords
- archaeology and society
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