Lost Maya Queen Ix Ch’ak Ch’een Revealed

Cobá, Mexico — An epigraphic discovery at the Cobá archaeological site in Quintana Roo has revealed the existence of a Maya ruler named Ix Ch’ak Ch’een, who governed the ancient city during the sixth century A.D. The information comes from a hieroglyphic analysis of the Foundation Rock, one of the most extensive and enigmatic monuments located in the area.

This discovery was made by epigraphers David Stuart of the University of Texas and Octavio Esparza Olguín of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), who concluded that the inscription corresponds to the same individual mentioned on other stelae and panels at Cobá. Their reading offers new clues about the political and religious structure of the ancient Maya civilization.

The find, coordinated by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) as part of the Program for the Improvement of Archaeological Zones (Promeza), represents one of the most significant advances in understanding the role of women in the dynastic history of Cobá and its connection to the ruling lineages of the classic Maya world.

Who Was Ix Ch’ak Ch’een? A Ruler at the Heart of Cobá

Studies indicate that Ix Ch’ak Ch’een was one of the principal leaders of Cobá around the year 569 A.D., a date that coincides with the founding of an institution known as kaloomte’, which was related to political and military power. The event took place at a site identified as Kehwitznal, or "the mountain of the deer," within the Nohoch Mul Group, one of the most imposing architectural complexes at the site.

In the inscriptions, the ruler is mentioned in connection with events such as the inauguration of a ballcourt and the culmination of an important calendar cycle, the seventh k’atun, which occurred in 573 A.D. These references confirm her central role in the rituals and ceremonies that legitimized power in Cobá.

What is the Importance of the Foundation Rock? A Witness to Maya Power and Faith

The Foundation Rock is the first monument discovered in Cobá directly associated with a body of water. Its location, on the edge of a aguada, or watering hole, in the Nohoch Mul Group, reflects the close relationship between political power and natural elements, especially water, a symbol of life and fertility for the ancient Maya.

On its surface, the hieroglyphs refer to the witz’ serpent, a mythical entity linked to mountains and waters, which would have been a protective deity of the site. According to Esparza Olguín, this connection between natural landscapes and religious beliefs explains the symbolic importance of the monument and its role within the worldview of the Cobá dynasty.

Ix Ch’ak Ch’een and Her Links to Other Kingdoms of the Maya World

A comparative analysis of the texts suggests that Ix Ch’ak Ch’een may have maintained a political relationship with Testigo Cielo, the powerful sovereign of the kingdom of Kaanul, also known as the "Snake Dynasty." Although the exact nature of this connection is not yet clear, specialists believe an alliance or diplomatic exchange existed between the two powers.

The investigation continues under the coordination of archaeologist Manuel Pérez Rivas and restorer Eunice Corazón Peralta, who are working on the conservation and study of the monument. Experts are confident that the next stages of the Promeza Cobá Project will reveal more details about the history of this woman and her role in consolidating one of the most influential political centers in the northern Yucatán Peninsula.