School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University

Joel Palka is an Associate Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University. His research interests include historical archaeology, cross-cultural contact, religion, ethnoarchaeology, Mesoamerican iconography, and Maya civilization. Professor Palka’s publications include Unconquered Lacandon Maya and Maya Pilgrimage to Ritual Landscapes, in addition to several journal articles and chapters in edited volumes. He has extensive archaeological field research experience in the Maya region and he is Director of the Mensabak Archaeological Project, a collaborative research project with Lacandon Maya, colleagues, and students in Chiapas.