20245604(en)/3 - Four Ideas on Marx and Social Complexity in Colombian Archaeology (2)
FOUR IDEAS ON MARX AND SOCIAL COMPLEXITY IN COLOMBIAN ARCHAEOLOGY
CUATRO IDEAS SOBRE MARX Y LA COMPLEJIDAD SOCIAL EN LA ARQUEOLOGÍA DE COLOMBIA
Wilhelm Londoño Díaz
This article explores the importance of Karl Marx to discussions around models of social complexity, chiefdoms, and stateless societies. To show the relevance of Marx in this regard, I present four ideas on the author. The first idea reviews what are considered distortions of Marx’s thought, which occurred when he became the object of a symbolic dispute within the context of the Cold War. The second idea analyzes the importance of Marx in the theoretical discussion of archaeology and history. The third idea summarizes what has been said about social complexity, using Colombia as a case study to illustrate specific conceptual trends in contemporary archeology. Finally, the fourth idea reevaluates views on social complexity in Colombia, taking ideas from Marx about stateless societies or, in his terminology, precapitalist modes of production.
