Caracol

Caracol

Belize · Cayo

Ancient cityExcavation ongoing
Approximate period600 BCE — 1,100 CEPreclassic–Postclassic Maya periods; approximate dates See on the map ↓

In brief

Caracol is an important Maya city in Belize where extensive residential areas, agricultural terraces, and monumental structures have been excavated. Its inscriptions and tombs provide information about the city's political history and the lives of its elites.

What was found?

  • 1Tomb attributed to Te K’ab Chaak

    According to researchers, the tomb found beneath the floor of a sacred structure belonging to the royal family belongs to the founder of the Caracol dynasty. It provides an important assemblage of finds for studying the dynasty's beginnings.

  • 2Jadeite mosaic funerary mask

    A mask assembled from pieces of jadeite was found in the tomb. It is an example of elaborate funerary furnishings and stone craftsmanship associated with elites.

  • 311 ceramic vessels

    The vessels in the tomb bear depictions of rulers, deities, and bound captives. One vessel depicts Ek Chuah, the god of merchants.

  • 4Jadeite jewelry

    Jadeite jewelry and worked beads were found in the burial. These are regarded as grave goods reflecting the individual's high status.

  • 5Spondylus shells of Pacific origin

    The seashells placed in the tomb are of Pacific origin. They are among the materials documenting Caracol's connections extending to coastal regions.

What does it point to?

The grave goods show that rulership, religious imagery, and precious materials came together in the same funerary arrangement. According to researchers, this tomb and nearby related burials shed light on the contacts of early Caracol elites across Mesoamerica.

What did it teach us?

  1. According to the excavation team, revealed the first tomb at Caracol that can be associated with a specific ruler.
  2. According to researchers, related burials showed that elite contacts between the Maya world and Central Mexico extended to before the entrada event of 378.
  3. Ceramic depictions made it possible to examine narratives of power and divine legitimacy during the early dynastic period.

Images

CARACOL TELEVISION INSTALACIONES
Futbolero · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Latest news / selected archive

In 2025, a tomb with a jadeite mask and rich offerings was discovered, which the excavation team attributed to the dynastic founder Te’ Kab Chaak.

Record

Culture
Maya
First modern dig
1950
Team / historical
Arlen F. Chase ve Diane Z. Chase; Houston Üniversitesi ve Belize Arkeoloji Enstitüsü
Coordinates
16.7639°, -89.1175°

Sources

  1. caracol.org
  2. caracol.org
  3. nichbelize.org
  4. uh.edu
  5. en.wikipedia.org

Nearby excavations


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12.000

From beneath the soil: latest discoveries

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    Arkeofili ↗
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