Latin American Studies Seminar March 2

University of Illinois-Chicago Associate Professor Joel Palka will speak on "Art, Iconography, and Lacandon Maya Historical Archaeology," at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2 in 131 Schroeder Hall. He will also present "Ethnogenesis and Unconquered Maya in the Guatemalan Rainforest" at 7 p.m. in 138 Schroeder Hall.

Palka's research and teaching interests include the archaeology and history of Mesoamerica and the Caribbean, Classic Maya culture, Maya hieroglyphic writing and art, cultural evolution, social inequality and settlement patterns. His current research covers ancient Maya social differentiation, settlement archaeology, and the collapse of Maya civilization along with his new historical archaeology project that examines Lacandon Maya culture change in Guatemala and Chiapas during the 19th century.