In this well-documented and illustrated work, Joel Palka further exposes the important role that pilgrimages to ritual landscapes play in Maya culture. To do so, Palka draws upon an impressive interdisciplinary array of data from archaeological, historical, and ethnographic studies to illustrate the continued importance of such pilgrimages and landscapes in Maya culture — and those Mesoamerican in general — from Preclassic to modern times. Whereas previous studies have examined either pilgrimage or landscapes, few study both together or focus on their relationships. Moreover, Palka's work seeks to expand traditional examinations of pilgrimage in Maya culture to explore its influence on society, politics, and religion. In the end, his work succeeds in removing pilgrimages and ritual landscapes from the periphery of Maya society by awarding them a more central role in Maya religion, culture, and ritual.
Palka begins his work with clear delineations of goals, sources, and definitions of terms....
