4000

In the contemporaneous panorama of social and cultural anthropology, there is a vein of reflective thought on the production itself of anthropological knowledge. The objective of this seminar is to examine this controversy based on ethnographic material. It is about considering ethnographic fact a fundamental part of anthropological knowledge, particularly as regards Colombian anthropological thought. This consideration, based on Colombian ethnographic experience, attempts to provide specific elements for students to carry out their own ethnographies (or their continuation). This means that the seminar has a dual perspective: An analytical or critical perspective and a proactive or operational perspective.

The objective of this course is to give students an overall view of world and Colombian archeology theory. This is not a history of archeology, although we will look at historical aspects, but an attempt to raise students’ awareness of different postures, the importance of these discussions to archeological work, the need to be explicit with research questions and the theoretical assumptions in any project.

This course will discuss the different scales on which archeology works, according to the specific problem being investigated. We will evaluate the analytical spectrum defined as regional or local, and will reflect on the criteria for selecting the right methodology and field techniques, so that the information gathered in the field will be relevant for solving the problems under investigation.

This semester is used by students to perform the specific activities required to carry out the research project formulated in the first year. These activities, among others, correspond to regional reconnaissance, prospection, excavations, searches in files and libraries, and the "onsite" observations and descriptions of activities. During this period, students will have the guidance of the research director as per the timetable agreed upon between the parties.

The graduation project consists of analyzing the information retrieved and producing the final research report, which is one of the requirements to receive a Master’s Degree in Anthropology.

Students are required to enroll in the last semester of their studies to carry out the graduation process.