Classic Maya Social Inequality, Networks, and Collapse at DOS Pilas, Petén, Guatemala - Hardcover
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Classic Maya Social Inequality, Networks, and Collapse at DOS Pilas, Petén, Guatemala - Hardcover
$121.50
Sale price
$121.50
Regular price
by Joel W. Palka (Author)
Household archaeology and the unraveling of Classic Maya power
The Classic Maya collapse (ca. CE 800) in Mesoamerica has been the focus of much scholarly debate over the last century. In Classic Maya Social Inequality, Networks, and Collapse at Dos Pilas, Petén, Guatemala, Joel W. Palka further explores possible causes of the collapse and breaks new ground by examining its differing effects on Maya elites and commoners. Drawing on four years of extensive household excavations, Palka reveals how the unraveling of Maya society unfolded not through drought or economic decline alone, but through the disintegration of elite social networks and shifting strategies of survival among high-status commoners. Using data from monumental architecture, hieroglyphic inscriptions, and domestic archaeology, this study illuminates the lived experience of collapse from multiple social strata. By integrating political, environmental, and household perspectives, Palka provides one of the most comprehensive archaeological analyses of social change at an ancient Maya capital. This richly illustrated volume redefines our understanding of collapse, resilience, and transformation in ancient Mesoamerica, offering vital insights for archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians alike.Author Biography
Joel W. Palka is an associate professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University. He is the author of Unconquered Lacandon Maya: Ethnohistory and Archaeology of Indigenous Culture Change and Maya Pilgrimage to Ritual Landscapes: Insights from Archaeology, History, and Ethnography.
Number of Pages: 290
Publication Date: May 29, 2026