The Secretariat of Culture of the Government of Mexico, in collaboration with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), has announced the discovery of a fascinating panel containing an extensive Maya hieroglyphic text, which was found engraved on the rock of a nearby lagoon to the imposing pyramid structure Nohoch Mul, in the emblematic Archaeological Zone of Cobá, Quintana Roo.
The finding sheds new light on the rich and complex history of a region that maintained a continuous presence for over 1,300 years, from 100 B.C. to A.D. 1200.
The General Director of INAH, Diego Prieto Hernández, presented this discovery during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s morning conference, as part of the advancements of the ambitious Archaeological Zones Improvement Program (Promeza) in sites adjacent to Segment 5 of the Maya Train.
This program not only seeks to preserve and study the region’s archaeological heritage but also to integrate it in a respectful and sustainable manner into the tourism and economic development driven by the Maya Train project.
The discovery, the result of meticulous archaeological work, reveals a panel composed of 123 hieroglyphic cartouches that form an extensive L-shaped inscription, covering an impressive surface of over 11 square meters carved directly into the rock, just 160 meters from the majestic Nohoch Mul. The magnitude and complexity of this inscription underscore the importance of Cobá as a political and cultural center in the ancient Maya world.
A preliminary epigraphic analysis has allowed the deciphering of crucial information, including the founding date of a settlement named Keh Witz Nal or “Mountain of the Deer”, which dates back to May 12, A.D. 569.
Additionally, the inscription has revealed the identity of a previously unknown sovereign, K’awiil Ch’ak Chéen, which significantly contributes to completing Cobá’s dynastic sequence. This discovery is particularly exciting for researchers, as it fills an important gap in our knowledge about the rulers of this ancient city-state.
It is interesting to note that, so far, 14 rulers of Cobá have been identified, including three women, one of whom ruled for four decades, suggesting a dynamic power structure and possibly more egalitarian than previously thought.
The hieroglyphic text also reveals that many of Cobá’s rulers adopted the name of the god K’awil, a practice believed to confer divine attributes as protectors of the place.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the inscription is how it links historical events with the mythical past. The text refers to a group of tutelary gods who founded Cobá, including Bolón Tz’akab Ajaw, known as the Lord of the countless generations, who was believed to be responsible for establishing the maize and cacao dynasties.
The Cobá archaeological project, as part of Promeza, has extended its efforts to protect this valuable panel from environmental factors that have deteriorated it over the centuries. A meticulous cleaning process has been implemented to remove the dirt, salts, and vegetation that covered it, followed by careful restoration including the injection of lime mortar fillings to strengthen the rock’s internal structure.
In addition to these conservation measures, a high-precision recording of the glyphic text has been carried out using cutting-edge technology to create three-dimensional models. These models will not only enable deeper epigraphic studies but also facilitate the eventual complete deciphering of the text, promoting a more comprehensive understanding of its content and meaning.
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