Archaeologists in Belize have made a historic discovery deep in the dense jungle of Caracol, the country’s largest ancient Maya city: Buried beneath a previously explored structure, they found the tomb of a powerful Maya king believed to have lived around 1,700 years ago. This is the first time researchers have found clear evidence of a king at this important site, providing new understanding of early Maya leadership.
The tomb belonged to a ruler named Te K’ab Chak, who took the throne in A.D. 331. Inside the chamber, experts found carefully arranged remains surrounded by items that reflected the ruler’s high status. These included pieces of a mosaic mask, finely crafted jade jewelry, colorful sea shells, and pottery featuring detailed images. The tomb walls were lined with red pigment—a symbolic color that, in Maya culture, marked the burial of a person of great importance.
This discovery helps researchers better understand how leadership developed in Caracol before it expanded into one of the region’s most populated Maya cities.
Maya king tomb discovery in Caracol, Belize
The finding marks a turning point for Maya archaeology at Caracol. Despite decades of exploration, researchers had never found a tomb they could directly link to a known ruler. The identification of Te K’ab Chak through ancient writing, or glyphs, confirms that he was part of Caracol’s early royal family and may have helped shape the political foundation of the city.
Alongside his remains were luxury items rarely seen in tombs from this time. Three sets of jade ear ornaments, ceramic vessels painted with scenes of gods and native animals, and a remarkable mosaic mask all point to a high-ranking figure. One ceramic piece showed the Maya god of trade, while others featured animals such as hummingbirds, owls, and coatimundis.
Archaeologist Arlen Chase, part of the team that found the tomb, described his reaction when he saw the intricate jade mask: “Oh my God, this is much more important than I thought it was.” His research partner, Diane Chase, traveled from the University of Houston to study the site firsthand. The couple has led archaeological work at Caracol for decades.
Artifacts suggest long-distance connections beyond the Maya world
Items found in the tomb point to possible ties between the Maya of Belize and other ancient cultures in what is now central Mexico. Objects like green obsidian blades and a spear-thrower tip resemble those discovered in distant cities such as Teotihuacán, a once-thriving metropolis located nearly 750 miles away.
Such similarities suggest that Caracol may have been part of a broader network of trade or cultural exchange much earlier than experts previously believed. One burial practice—cremation—hinted at foreign influence, as it was rare among the Maya but common in central Mexico.
Melissa Badillo, director of Belize’s Institute of Archaeology, called the find “one of a kind,” noting how well preserved the remains were despite the humid conditions that usually make preservation difficult. She confirmed that some of the artifacts will be displayed to the public at Caracol, thanks to recent improvements in site access.
Although the tomb may predate major interactions between the Maya and other regions, scholars stress that further study is needed. There’s a lot more to the story that’s going to take us longer to unravel, said anthropologist Rosemary Joyce from the University of California, Berkeley.