Conference History

2007 – Launched the Maya at the Playa Conference in Palm Coast, Florida from May 24 to 27. The conference was held at Flagler Palm Coast High School and The Flagler Auditorium. Speakers stayed at the Hammock Beach Club Resort. There were 13 scholars on the program and special musical performance.

Speakers presenting:

• -Jaime Awe – Belize Institute of Archaeology

• -Patricio Balona – Journalist

• -Ramzy Barrois – Sorbonne University

• -Arlen Chase – University of Central Florida

• -Diane Chase – University of Central Florida

• -Cameron Griffith – Indiana University

• -Nicholas Hearth – University of California, Riverside

• -Christophe Helmke – University of Copenhagen

• -Reiko Ishihara – University of California, Riverside

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Jennifer Piehl – Sul Ross State University

• -Robert Sitler – Stetson Unniversity

• -Gabriel Wrobel – University of Mississippi

  Musical Performance by:

• -Florencio Mess & the K’ekchi Strings

2008 – Second Annual Maya at the Playa Conference held from October 2 through 5. The conference was held at Flagler Palm Coast High School and The Flagler Auditorium. Presenters stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites instead of the Hammock Beach Club. There were 25 scholars on the program and one special musical performance.

Speakers presenting:

• -Elyse Anderson – University of Florida

• -Traci Ardren – University of Miami

• -Jaime Awe – Belize Institute of Archaeology

• -Patricio Balona – Journalist

• -Ramzy Barrois – Sorbonne University

• -Arlen Chase – University of Central Florida

• -Diane Chase – University of Central Florida

• -Pablo Collado - Musician

• -Cameron Griffith - Indiana University

• -Christopher Helmke – University of Copenhagen

• -Patsy Holden – University of Central Florida

• -Reiko Ishidara – University of California, Riverside

• -Nicolasa Jerónimo – Master Weaver

• -Erol Kavountzis – University of Florida

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -David Lee – Southern Methodist University

• -Jennifer Piehl – Tulane University

• -Jim Reed – Institute of Maya Studies

• -John F. Scott – University of Florida

• -Robert Sitler – Stetson University

• -W. James Stemp – Keene State College

• -Ben Thomas – Archaeological Institute of America

• -Erin Kennedy Thornton – University of Florida

• -Mark Van Stone – Southwestern College

• -Gabriel Wrobel – University of Mississippi

Musical Performance by:

• -Pablo Collado

2009 – Third Annual Maya at the Playa Conference held October 1 to the 4. The conference moved most events to the Flagler County Government Services Building but still used The Flagler Auditorium for concert. The participants stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn for the first year. The Archaeological Institute of America held their Fall board meeting in conjunction with the conference. We also honored Merle Greene Robertson with the first Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement Award. Merle gave her last major public talk here, passing away at the age of 98 less than two years later. 27 scholars on the program.

Speakers presenting:

• -Armando Anaya-Hernandez – Universidad Autonoma de Campeche

• -Jaime Awe – Belize Institute of Archaeology

• -Patricio Balona – Journalist

• -Ramzy Barrois – Sorbonne University

• -Arlen F. Chase – University of Central Florida

• -Diane Z. Chase – University of Central Florida

• -Allan B. Cobb – Independent Researcher and Author

• -James F. Garber – Texas State University

• -Cameron Griffith – Indiana University

• -Gyles Iannone – Trent University

• -Stanley Guenter – Southern Methodist University

• -Patsy Holden – University of Central Florida

• -Reiko Ishihara – Dumbarton Oaks Research Library

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Ashley Kistler – Rollins College

• -Katrin Kopka – University of Bonn

• -David Lee – Southern Methodist University

• -Jim Pritchard – Brockington and Associates

• -Joaquin J. Rodriguez III – Institute of Maya Studies

• -William Saturno – Boston University

• -Yuko Shiratori – State University of New York, Albany

• -Robert Sitler – Stetson University

• -W. James Stemp – Keene State College

• -Ben Thomas – Archaeological Institute of America

• -Mark Van Stone – Southwestern College

• -Gabriel Wrobel – University of Mississippi

Musical Performance by:

• -Pablo Collado

2010 – The Fourth Annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held on September 30 through October 3. We honored Michael D. Coe (Yale University) with the second Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement Award. The conference was held at the Flagler County Government Services Building with only Dr. Coe’s lecture being held at the Flagler Auditorium. Speakers stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn. 39 scholars on the program.

Other speakers presenting:

• -Armando Anaya-Hernandez – Universidad Autonoma de Campeche

• -Traci Ardren – University of Miami

• -Jaime Awe – Belize Institute of Archaeology

• -Patricio Balona – Journalist

• -Ramzy Barrois – Sorbonne University

• -Allan B. Cobb – Independent Researcher and Author

• -James F. Garber – Texas State University

• -Steve Glassman – Embry-Riddle University

• -Cameron Griffith – Indiana University

• -Stanley Guenter – Southern Methodist University

• -Christina Halperin – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

• -Amanda Harvey – University of Southern Mississippi

• -Christopher Helmke – University of Copenhagen

• -Julie Hogarth – University of Pittsburgh

• -Barbara Hughes – University of Colorado, Denver

• -Gyles Iannone – Trent University

• -Reiko Ishihara – Dumbarton Oaks Research Library

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Ashley Kistler – Rollins College

• -Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire – Trent University

• -David Lee – Southern Methodist University

• -Mary Lou McFate – Author

• -Heather McKillop – Louisiana State University

• -Keith Merwin – Independent Scholar

• -Priscilla Mollard – San Francisco State University

• -Nicole Musselwhite – University of Southern Mississippi

• -Meaghen Peruamaki-Brown – University of Calgary

• -Jim Reed – Institute of Maya Studies

• -Joaquin J. Rodriguez III – Institute of Maya Studies

• -Robert Sitler – Stetson University

• -Eric Slazyk – Architect

• -W. James Stemp – Keene State College

• -George E. Stuart – National Geographic Society

• -Lauren Sullivan – University of Massachusetts, Boston

• -Mark Van Stone – Southwestern College

• -Gabrielle Vail – New College

• -Patrick Wilkinson – University of Arkansas

• -Marc Zender – Harvard University

2011 – The fifth annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held October 6 to 9. The conference was held only at the Flagler County Government Services Building and the participants all stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn. Dr. George Stuart (National Geographic Society) was honored with the 3rd Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement Award. 26 scholars on the program.

Other speakers presenting:

• -Gerardo Aldana – University of California, Santa Barbara

• -Armando Anaya-Hernandez - Universidad Autonoma de Campeche

• -Jaime Awe – Belize Institute of Archaeology

• -Patricio Balona – Journalist

• -Ramzy Barrois – Sorbonne University

• -Allan B. Cobb – Independent Researcher and Author

• -Francisco Estrada-Belli – Boston University

• -Steve Glassman – Embry-Riddle University

• -Stanley Guenter – Idaho State University

• -Amanda Harvey – University of Southern Mississippi

• -Julie Hoggarth – University of Pittsburgh

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -David Lee – Southern Methodist University

• -Bruce Love – University of California, Los Angeles

• -Heather McKillop – Louisiana State University

• -Keith Merwin – Independent Researcher

• -Virginia Miller – University of Illinois, Chicago

• -Meaghan Peuramaki-Brown – Univesity of Calgary

• -Joaquin J. Rodriguez III – Institute of Maya Studies

• -Eric Slazyk – Institute of Maya Studies

• -Jon Spenard – University of California, Riverside

• -W. James Stemp – Keene State College

• -Mark Van Stone – Southwestern College

• -Gabrielle Vail – New College

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2012 – The sixth annual Maya at the Playa Conference took place from September 26-29. The entire conference was held at the Flagler County Government Services Building. Dr. Ian Grahan (Harvard University) (not in attendance) and The Corpus of Maya Inscriptions was honored with the 4th Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement Award. 28 scholars on the program.

Speakers presenting:

• -Gerardo Aldana – University of California, Santa Barbara

• -Jaime J. Awe – Belize Institute of Archaeology

• -Marcello Canuto – Tulane University

• -Francisco Estrada-Belli – Boston University

• -Barbara W. Fash – Harvard University

• -William Fash – Harvard University

• -Steve Glassman – Embry-Riddle University

• -Norman Hammond – Boston University

• -Amanda Harvey – University of Nevada, Reno

• -Christophe Helmke – University of Copenhagen

• -Gyles Iannone – Trent University

• -Takeshi Inomata – University of Arizona

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -David Lee – Southern Methodist University

• -Bruce Love – University of California, Los Angeles

• -Keith Merwin – Independent Researcher

• -Holley Moyes – University of California, Merced

• -Peter Mathews – Latrobe University

• -Shawn Morton – University of Calgary

• -Meaghan Peuramaki-Brown – University of Calgary

• -Joaquin J. Rodriguez III – Institute of Maya Studies

• -William Saturno – Boston University

• -Robert Sitler – Stetson University

• -W. James Stemp – Keene State College

• -Patricia Stone – Emory University Carlos Museum

• -David Stuart – University of Texas, Austin

• -George Stuart – National Geographic Society

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2013 – The seventh annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held from September 26 to 29. The conference was held at the Flagler County Government Services Building and the neighboring Emergency Services Building. Justin and Barbara Kerr (Maya Vase Books) were honored with the 5th Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement Award. 22 scholars on the program.

Other speakers presenting:

• -Traci Ardren – University of Miami

• -Ronald L. Bishop – Smithsonian Institution

• -Ignacio Cases – State University of New York, Albany

• -Jeremy Coltman – California State University, Los Angeles

• -Richard A. Diehl – University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

• -Francisco Estrada-Belli – Boston University

• -David Freidel – Washington University

• -Jay A. Frogel – Photographer

• -Charles Golden – Brandeis University

• -Stanley Guenter – Idaho State University

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Keith Merwin – Institute of Maya Studies

• -Shawn G. Morton – University of Calgary

• -Meaghan Peuramaki-Brown – University of Calgary

• -Joaquin J. Rodriguez III – Institute of Maya Studies

• -Erin L. Sears – University of Kentucky

• -Norbert Stanchly – Trent University

• -George Stuart – National Geographic Society

• -Mark Van Stone – Southwestern College

• -Debra Walker – University of Florida Museum of Natural History

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2014 – The eight annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held from September 25 to 28. The entire conference was held at the Flagler County Government Services Building. Dr. Peter Mathews (Latrobe University) was honored with the 6th Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement award. 19 scholars on the program.

Other speakers presenting:

• -Gerardo Aldana – University of California, Santa Barbara

• -Armando Anaya-Hernandez - Universidad Autonoma de Campeche

• -Marcello Canuto – Tulane University

• -Francisco Estrada-Belli – Boston University

• -Stanley Guenter – Idaho State University

• -Hutch Kinsman – Independent Researcher

• -John Justeson – State University of New York, Albany

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire – Tulane University

• -Keith Merwin – Institute of Maya Studies

• -Steve Radzi – Artist

• -Joaquin J. Rodriguez III – Institute of Maya Studies

• -David Schele – Independent Researcher

• -Elaine Day Schele – Austin Community College

• -Phil Wanyerka – Cleveland State University

• -Karon Winzenz – University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

• -Gabriel Wrobel – Michigan State University

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2015 – The ninth annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held from September 17 to 20. The conference was held at the Flagler County Government Service Building. E. Wyllys Andrews (Tulane University) was honored with the 7th Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement Award. 18 scholars on the program. 

Other speakers presenting:

• -Carl Abbott – Architect

• -James Aimers – State University of New York, Geneseo

• -Tony Andrews – New College

• -Traci Ardred – University of Miami

• -George Bey III – Millsaps College

• -Geoffrey E. Braswell – University of California, San Diego

• -Marcello Canuto – Tulane University

• -Francisco Estrada-Belli – Boston University

• -Tomás Gallareta Negrón – Institut

• -Stanley Paul Guenter – Foundation for Archaeological Research & Environmental Studies

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hillaire – Tulane University

• -Lisa J. Lucero – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• -Keith Merwin – Institute of Maya Studies

• -William M. Ringle – Davidson College

• -Joaquin J. Rodriguez III – Institute of Maya Studies

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2016 – The 10th annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held September 29 to October 2. The conference was held at the Flagler County Government Services Building and neighboring Emergency Operations Center. Dr. Jaime J. Awe (Northern Arizona University) was honored with the 8th Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement Award. 26 scholars on the program.

Other speakers presenting:

• -James Aimers – State University of New York, Geneseo

• -M. Katheryn Brown – University of Texas, San Antonio

• -Allan Cobb – Independent Researcher and Author

• -Claire Ebert – Pennsylvania State University

• -Josalyn Ferguson – State University of New York, Albany

• -James Garber – Texas State University

• -Elizabeth Graham – University College London

• -Cameron Griffith – Texas Tech University

• -Stanley Guenter – American Foreign Academic Research

• -Kendall Hills - University of Illinois, Chicago

• -Julie Hoggarth – Baylor University

• -Gyles Iannone – Trent University

• -Mary Kate Kelly – Tulane University

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire – Tulane University

• -Terry Powis – Kennesaw State University

• -Steve Radzi – Artist

• -Rhan-Ju Song – University of Toronto Scarborough

• -Norbert Stanchly – AS&G Archaeological Consulting

• -W. James Stemp – Keene State College

• -Kelsey Sullivan – Northern Arizona University

• -Lauren A. Sullivan – University of Massachusetts Boston

• -Karon Winzenz – University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

• -Gabriel Wrobel – Michigan State University

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2017 – The eleventh annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held from September 21 to 24. The conference was moved entirely to the Hilton Garden Inn for the first year. No Lifetime Achievement Award was given. 16 scholars on the program.

Speakers presenting:

• -Jaime Awe – Northern Arizona University

• -Michael Callaghan – University of Central Florida

• -Marcello Canuto – Tulane University

• -Britt Davies – Northern Arizona University

• -Stan Guenter – American Foreign Academic Research

• -John Justeson – State University of New York, Albany

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Hutch Kinsman – Independent Researcher

• -Briggitte Kovacevish – University of Central Florida

• -Evan Parker – Tulane University

• -Bruce Love – University of California, Los Angeles

• -Steve Radzi – Artist

• -Zoe Rawski – University of Texas, San Antonio

• -Whittaker Schroder – University of Pennsylvania

• -Alexandre Tokovinine – University of Alabama

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2018 – The twelfth annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held from September 26 to 29. The conference took place entirely at the Hilton Garden Inn. No Lifetime Achievement Award was given in 2018. 15 scholars on the program.

Speakers presenting:

• -Jaime Awe – Northern Arizona University

• -James Brady – Cal State Los Angeles

• -Allan B. Cobb – Independent Researcher and Author

• -Jeremy Coltman – University of California, Riverside

• -Cameron Griffith – Texas Tech University

• -Stanley Guenter – American Foreign Academic Research

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire – Tulane University

• -Shawn Morton – Northern Arizona University

• -Holley Moyes – University of California, Merced

• -Dominique Rissolo – University of California, San Diego

• -Jennifer Saracino – Flagler College

• -Brent K.S. Woodfill – Winthrop University

• -Gabriel Wrobel – Michigan State University

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2019 – The thirteen annual Maya at the Playa Conference was held from September 26 to 29. The event was held entirely at the Hilton Garden Inn. C. Mathew Saunders (Davidson Day School/AFAR) was given the 9th Maya at the Playa Lifetime Achievement Award. 17 scholars on the program.

Other speakers presenting:

• -Jaime Awe – Northern Arizona University

• -Emily Davis-Hale – Tulane University

• -Arthur Demarest – Vanderbilt University

• -Rachel Gill – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• -Stanley Guenter – American Foreign Academic Research

• -Rodrigo Guzman – University of Central Florida

• -Rachel A. Horowitz – Tulane University

• -Brett A. Houk – Texas Tech University

• -Gyles Iannone – Trent University

• -Mary Kate Kelly – Tulane University

• -Harri Kettunen – University of Helsinki

• -Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire – Davidson College

• -Lisa J. Lucero – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• -Haley Holt Mehta – Florida State University

• -Jayur Madhusudan Mehta – Florida State University

• -Marc Zender – Tulane University

2020 - The fourteenth installment of the Maya at the Playa Conference took place from October 1 to  4. The conference was presented virtually as an online streaming program. 

Speakers Presenting:

• Jaime Awe - Northern Arizona University

• Iyaxel Cojti Ren -

• Christophe Helmke - University of Copenhagen

• Harri Kettunen - University of Helsinki

• Simon Martin - Penn Museum

• Mallory Matsumoto - Brown University

• Judith Maxwell - Tulane University

• Walter Paz Joj - Independent Artist

• Jocelyne Ponce - Tulane University

• David Stuart - University of Texas, Austin

• Marc Zender - Tulane University

2021 - The fifteenth installment of the Maya at the Playa Conference took place from September 23 to 26. The conference was presented virtually as an online streaming program. 

Speakers Presenting:

• Harri Kettunen - University of Helsinki

• Marc Zender - Tulane University