Discovery of Ancient Maya Ruler’s Tomb

A team of archaeologists from the University of Houston, led by the married couple Arlen Chase and Diane Chase, who are approaching their 50th wedding anniversary, has made a significant discovery. They have unearthed the fourth-century CE tomb of an ancient Maya ruler, making them a true power couple in the archaeological world.

The Maya Ruler: Te K’ab Chaak

The Maya ruler in question is Te K’ab Chaak, who was the first ruler of Caracol, a major Maya city that dominated the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula from 560 to 680 CE. Caracol is now the largest Maya archaeological site in modern-day Belize. Te K’ab Chaak ascended to the throne in 331 CE and established a royal dynasty that lasted for over 460 years. He was buried around 350 CE at the base of a royal family shrine, accompanied by various mortuary objects such as jadeite jewelry, a mosaic jadeite mask, carved bone tubes, Pacific spondylus shells, and pottery vessels. The pottery featured scenes including a ruler receiving offerings, the Maya god of traders, and bound captives. According to a University of Houston statement, Te K’ab Chaak died at an "advanced age," with no remaining teeth and stood at approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 centimeters) tall.

Excavation Findings

Among the discoveries in the tomb was a Maya pottery vessel, presumably found in the tomb, which is a significant artifact in understanding the life and times of Te K’ab Chaak.

Contact Between Mayans and Teotihuacán

The tomb is one of three major burials excavated in the Caracol Northeast Acropolis, dating back to around 350 CE. This raises important questions about the contact between the Mayans and the people of the ancient city of Teotihuacán, which was already a large city and trading hub by 300 CE. The mid-fourth century saw early contact between the two peoples, with Teotihuacán being approximately 746 miles (1,200 kilometers) away in modern-day Mexico.

Archaeological Insights

"One question that has perplexed Maya archaeologists since the 1960s is whether a new political order was introduced to the Maya area by Mexicans from Teotihuacan," Diane Chase noted in a statement. "Maya carved stone monuments, hieroglyphic dates, iconography, and archaeological data all suggest that widespread pan-Mesoamerican connections occurred after an event in 378 AD referred to as ‘entrada.’" However, she adds that archaeological data from Caracol indicates that the situation was "far more complicated."

Additional Discoveries

Among the other significant discoveries was a collection of jadeite tubular beads, presumably found in the newly discovered tomb, which sheds more light on the burial practices and the wealth of the Maya rulers.

Other Burials and Their Significance

The two other burials include a cremation and another tomb. The tomb, excavated in 2009, was covered in hematite and belonged to a woman who was buried with a spondylus bead necklace, pottery vessels, mirror fragments, and two Pacific spondylus shells. The cremation, discovered the following year, included burial goods and practices of central Mexican tradition, such as pottery vessels, green obsidian blades, and a carved projectile tip typical of Teotihuacan warriors. Archaeologists suggest that the deceased individual was probably a member of the Caracol royal family who followed central Mexican ritual practices, if not a royal Maya envoy to Teotihuacan.

Implications of the Discoveries

"Both central Mexico and the Maya area were clearly aware of each other’s ritual practices, as reflected in the Caracol cremation," Arlen Chase observed. This indicates that early Maya rulers had Mesoamerican-wide contacts decades before the supposed ‘entrada.’ "The connections between the two regions were undertaken by the highest levels of society, suggesting that initial kings at various Maya cities—such as Te K’ab Chaak at Caracol—were engaged in formal diplomatic relationships with Teotihuacan," he added.

Future Investigations

Moving forward, the team plans to continue investigating the objects and skeletal remains found in Te K’ab Chaak’s burial chamber. Notably, the Chases’ son is also an archaeologist, indicating a family legacy in the field.