Mayan Stone Slab Found With References to Ancient Lost City
Deep in the Mexican jungle, at the edge of the Yucatán Peninsula, archaeologists have unearthed a hidden treasure trove of history.
In the long-abandoned ancient Maya city of Cobá, near the imposing Nohoch Mul pyramid, a large stone slab hidden in what was once the floor of a sacred pool has been discovered.
What makes this slab so special is what it carries: an inscription composed of 123 glyphs, carefully carved on its surface. An initial inspection suggests that the glyphs describe the founding date of a city called Keh Witz Nal, or "Mountain of the Deer," on May 12, 569 AD.
They also name a previously unknown Maya ruler: K’awiil Ch’ak Chéen, a name that invokes K’awiil, the Maya god of lightning. Other glyphs refer to the gods believed to have founded Cobá, including Bolón Tz’akab Ajaw, lord of countless generations.
Located in what is now the state of Quintana Roo, on the eastern side of the Yucatán Peninsula, the once glorious and now ruined city of Cobá may have been built by the Maya as early as 50 BC and was inhabited continuously for over 1,500 years, with the most recent buildings constructed between 1200 and 1500 AD. At its peak, it was a thriving cultural center boasting about 50,000 inhabitants.
It is one of the few archaeological sites to still bear its Maya name, Ko’ba’a, a name that means turbulent waters, and it is rich in engravings and sculptures that reveal much about the spiritual and aesthetic life of the Maya who once lived there.
Excavations at the site are very careful and meticulous, and the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH) has taken the necessary time to unearth and restore the city's monuments, temporarily lost in the jungle and in time. The stone slab was discovered at the bottom of what was once a pool, and it is astounding. It covers an area of 11 square meters, with glyphs carefully carved on its surface in a sort of L arrangement that adapted to the shape of the stone.
Previously, 14 rulers of Cobá had been identified, including three women, one of whom reigned for 40 years. With the new information contained in the highly stylized writing, researchers have been able to corroborate that many of these rulers adopted the name of the god K’awiil. A more detailed study of the inscription will be conducted, but for now, the archaeological team is focusing on the restoration and preservation of the stone from further damage caused by water and erosion.
A detailed and high-resolution 3D reconstruction has been made, which will allow further studies without further touching the stone.
