ABSTRACT
My intention here is to present a problem that we frequently confront when working in the field in northwestern Argentina. I focus mainly on my experience in the province of Catamarca, specifically the area of Alamito in the district of Aconquija (Medina 1993).2 The conditions in this location are similar to those I experienced in the province of Tucuman, specifically in the area of El Arbolar and Colalao del Valle in the Department of Tafi.3 The aim of my field work and the related project was to define the basic socio-economic conditions and to evaluate possible local effects of establishing local museums at the respective sites.
