Archaeologists in Belize have uncovered the 1,600-year-old tomb of Te Ok’ab Chaak, the founding ruler of Caracol—some of the highly effective Maya cities of the Traditional Interval. In accordance with Stay Science, the invention, made by researchers from the College of Houston, marks the primary time a clearly recognized royal tomb has been discovered on the website in over 4 a long time of excavation.
Te Ok’ab Chaak, whose title interprets to “Tree Department Rain God,” assumed the throne in 331 CE. His tomb, dated to round 350 CE, was situated within the metropolis’s Northeast Acropolis—a ceremonial and residential complicated simply past the city core. Inside have been jade beads, carved bones, seashells, a mosaic jade demise masks, and pottery vessels that includes Maya deities and rulers receiving choices.
The tomb is one in every of three not too long ago unearthed within the space. Whereas earlier finds at Caracol—reminiscent of central Mexican artifacts found in 2010—prompt affect from Teotihuacán, these earlier tombs seem to belong to native Maya royalty, predating that contact by a era.
Te Ok’ab Chaak was estimated to be about 5 toes and seven inches tall and toothless on the time of his demise, seemingly at a complicated age. The dynasty he established endured for greater than 460 years.
At its top, Caracol housed greater than 100,000 individuals and coated 68 sq. miles. It included causeways, agricultural programs, and large buildings just like the 140-foot-tall Caana pyramid—nonetheless among the many tallest in Belize. The positioning is situated within the highland jungle of Belize’s Cayo District, southeast of Tikal.
Arlen Chase, who co-leads the Caracol Archaeological Venture, mentioned in an announcement the invention sheds new gentle on the town’s early rulers and their diplomatic hyperlinks throughout Mesoamerica.
