Unveiling Ancient Maya Royalty: Treasures Found in Belize Tomb

Quick Smiles:

• A royal tomb in Belize reveals the treasures of Caracol’s first ruler.
• Artifacts link the Mayan city to the distant Teotihuacan.
• Discoveries challenge traditional views of early Mesoamerican connections.

In an exciting development in Maya archaeology, a husband-wife team has uncovered the tomb of the first-known ruler of Caracol, a significant Mayan city in Belize.

This discovery, led by Arlen and Diane Chase from the University of Houston, sheds light on early Maya royalty and their connections to the non-Mayan city-state of Teotihuacan in Mexico.

Caracol, a major metropolis of the Classical period, was once a bustling hub. The connection to Teotihuacan is crucial to understanding the life of Te K’ab Chaak, the warrior-king whose remains were found in this royal tomb.

The Chases began their excavation at a site they first explored in 1993—the northeast acropolis. By digging through the floor of an existing burial chamber, they uncovered a deeper set of tombs filled with remarkable grave goods.

Inside, they found 11 intricately decorated ceramic vessels, jade earflares, a mosaic jadeite funerary mask, and carved bone items. Arlen Chase noted,
“This guy is a one-percenter and that’s why he has so many vessels and three sets of jade earflares in that chamber.”

Diane Chase added that finding even one set of jade earflares is rare, let alone three. Moreover, the presence of a jadeite death mask, which they had only encountered once before, underscores the power and influence of Te K’ab Chaak.

The tomb’s floor and walls were adorned with cinnabar, a red pigment that signifies high royalty.
“You’re dealing with some of the highest royalty when the things get covered in cinnabar, which is red,” Arlen explained.

Te K’eb Chaak ascended the throne in 331 CE, ruling over a city larger than modern-day Belize’s capital. Caracol was a trade center, and this ruler’s control over trade is supported by iconography on one of the ceramic vessels.

A depiction of Ek Chuah, the Maya god of traders, was found atop one vessel, a rarity in Early Classic Mayan iconography. Arlen commented on this unique find, saying,
“Yet there he was… at 350 CE.”

The discovery offers a unique glimpse into the Mayan political world before the ‘entrada’ event in 378 CE, which marked widespread Mesoamerican connections. Diane Chase emphasized the importance of this find, stating,
“Maya carved stone monuments, hieroglyphic dates, iconography, and archaeological data all suggest that widespread pan-Mesoamerican connections occurred after an event in 378 CE referred to as ‘entrada.’”

Two other tombs were uncovered alongside Te K’ab Chaak’s, one containing cremated remains dated to 350 CE. These remains included artifacts typical of Teotihuacan, such as green obsidian blades and a carved atlatl projectile tip.

The placement of the cremation in a residential plaza and the inclusion of central Mexican artifacts suggest that the individual was a Caracol royal who adopted Teotihuacan practices.

This discovery indicates that relations between Caracol and Teotihuacan were established a generation earlier than previously thought.

The royal dynasty founded by Te K’ab Chaak thrived for over 460 years, maintaining connections between the two regions at the highest societal levels.

This find paints a picture of a vibrant and interconnected Mesoamerica long before modern infrastructure.

Arlen Chase concludes,
“We need to sort of rethink how we view the past when we get finds like this.”

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