Archaeologists have identified Ix Ch’ak Ch’een as one of the rulers of the ancient Maya city of Cobá, and uncovered the city’s dynastic history during the 6th century CE. The discovery comes from the “Foundation Rock,” a limestone monument found near a natural water reservoir (aguada) in the Nohoch Mul Group, which is home to Cobá’s tallest pyramid.
The monument, unveiled by Mexico’s National Insтιтute of Anthropology and History (INAH) as part of the Archaeological Zones Improvement Program (Promeza), bears partially eroded inscriptions. Conservation allowed epigraphers David Stuart (University of Texas at Austin) and Octavio Esparza Olguín (UNAM) to recover key pᴀssages, including dates, individuals’ names, and references to local deities.
Among the significant dates, 9.6.15.6.9 (May 12, 569 CE) marks the establishment of kaloomte’, a high-ranking political-military office, at Kehwitznal, meaning the “Place of the Mountain of the Deer,” presumably referring to the Nohoch Mul area. Ix Ch’ak Ch’een appears as the central figure of this event, confirming her rule and ᴀssociating her with other Cobá monuments such as Panel 7 and Stelae 26 and 30. These inscriptions link her to the construction of the Group D ballcourt and the completion of the seventh k’atun cycle on December 8, 573 CE. Variations of her name, like Ix Ch’ak Ch’een Yopaat, and her ᴀssociation with the god K’awiil, affirm her standing.
Ancient Maya city of Cobá. Credit: dronepicr / CC BY 2.0
The Foundation Rock also highlights Ix Ch’ak Ch’een’s relationship with protective deities such as Bolon Tz’akab Ajaw, “Lord of Innumerable Generations,” linking her rule to Cobá’s myths of creation. The text refers to the serpent witz’, the mythological creature ᴀssociated with water, adding to the spiritual significance of the aguada where the monument was carved.
Comparisons with Okop (Yo’okop) inscriptions suggest that Cobá was in contact with Sky Witness, ruler of the Kaanul dynasty—one of the great Maya powers—which implies possible alliances or diplomatic ties.
Cobá, covering an area of about 80 square kilometers with approximately 50,000 inhabitants at its peak, was famous for its vast network of stone causeways. The Foundation Rock provides unique insight into how city rulers combined political authority, ritual practice, and dynastic memory.
Portrait of Lady Kʼawiil, another ruler of Cobá, on Stela 1. Credit: Dennis G. Jarvis / CC BY-SA 2.0
Research is ongoing, and archaeologists look forward to further analysis to reveal more about Ix Ch’ak Ch’een’s reign and the nature of her relationships with other Maya kingdoms. This monument underscores the significance of women in Maya leadership and the overlap between sacred landscapes and political power.
