Ancient tomb excavation reveals first ruler in Mayan city
Archaeologists have unearthed a 1,600-year-old tomb in Belize that has been found to be the burial site of the first ruler of a Mayan city.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•14/07/2025
During excavations in Belize, archaeologists discovered the tomb of the first ruler of the ancient city of Caracol. Caracol is a Mayan city. It was the political center of the Mayans in the 6th - 7th centuries. Photo: Caracol Archaeological Project, University of Houston. The tomb was identified by experts as belonging to a Caracol king named Te K'ab Chaak. The king's name has a special meaning. Chaak was the rain god worshiped by the Maya. Te K'ab means branch, implying that this king was the rain god's right-hand man. Photo: Caracol Archaeological Project, University of Houston.
Caracol means “snail” in Spanish. The ancient Maya name for the city is believed to have been Uxwitza, meaning “Three Hills of Water.” Photo: Caracol Archaeological Project, University of Houston. King Te K'ab Chaak ascended the throne in 331 and founded the city of Caracol. This is the first time experts have found a Mayan royal tomb in Caracol. Photo: Caracol Archaeological Project, University of Houston. The newly excavated tomb is also one of three large tombs found at the site in the “Northeast Acropolis” – a towering complex just outside the city centre that served as a royal residence and public ceremonial space. Photo: Fabian Michelangeli / CC BY NC ND 2.0.
Inside the tomb of King Te K'ab Chaak were many valuable artifacts including: ceramic vases, carved bones, shells, tubular jade beads and a jade-inlaid mask. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images. One ceramic vessel depicts a Mayan king holding a spear and receiving offerings, while another depicts Ek Chuah, the Maya god of merchants, surrounded by offerings. Examination of Te K'ab Chaak's remains shows that he was about 1.7m tall. His dynasty lasted more than 460 years. Photo: belizewithalvin. Caracol was one of the largest and most important cities of the Maya civilization, with an estimated population of over 100,000 at its peak. However, in 900 AD, along with many other Maya settlements, Caracol fell into mysterious decline. Photo: interestingengineering.
The ruins of the city of Caracol were found in the jungle of what is now Belize. Photo: University of Houston. Research by experts shows that the city of Caracol once stretched over an area of over 177 square kilometers with causeways, terraced fields, buildings and magnificent architectural works such as the 43-meter-high Caana pyramid. Photo: classicmayaadventuretours.
Readers are invited to watch the video : Revealing lost civilizations through archaeological remains.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•14/07/2025
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