Peopling and migrations: some remarks based on research in Ladakh

Pascale Dollfus (1)

1 CEH - Centre d'Études Himalayennes

In this paper, I attempt to illustrate the possible pitfalls of taking what is common place at face value. As an anthropologist,in order to create a narrative of the past, I look beyond the textual material for clues in the practices engaged in and in oral traditions. I have chosen 3 of them related to peopling and migrations to illustrate my sentiments: 1 –Mountains act as barriers. Isolated behind high ranges, mountain peoples are more archaic and mix less than those inhabiting plainsa nd valley floors. 2 -Farming on barren land such asin Ladakh depends on large-scale waterworks calling not only for great hydraulic expertise, but a great work force (or to use a Marxist vocabulary, requiring a high level of production forces), then government control for ensuring a proper distribution of the water, that leads to an absolutist managerial state (Karl Wittfogel's theory on "hydraulic civilizations"4) 3 –Nomadism is but primitive survival, a stage in evolution leading to agriculture and sedentarisation

Mots clés: nomadism; Ladakh

Domaines: Anthropologie sociale et ethnologie; Géographie

Pascale Dollfus. Peopling and migrations: some remarks based on research in Ladakh. Migrations, F. Jacquesson, Sep 2007, Porquerolles, France. ⟨hal-01687921⟩