Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Maya Stone Monument with Intricate Text

Around the year 400, a city-state flourished within Guatemala. Known as Waka, and later called El Perú-Waka, the civilization contained tens of thousands of people. With hundreds of buildings, including plazas and ceremonial centers, the Maya city was impressive during the peak of its power. Now, archaeologists have unearthed something from the ruins of El Perú-Waka. They've found an intricately carved stone monument with hieroglyphic text detailing the exploits of a political figure, revealing further insight into the history of the location.

The monument is known officially as El Perú Stela 44. It offers a wealth of information about the "dark period" in Maya history, including the names of two previously unknown Maya rulers and the realities that helped shape their legacies. More specifically, the stone details the history of a little-known sixth-century princess whose progeny engaged in a bloody, back-and-forth struggle between two of the civilization's most powerful royal dynasties.

"The narrative of Stela 44 is full of twists and turns of the kind that are usually found in time of war but rarely detected in Precolumbian archaeology," said David Freidal, professor of anthropology at Washington University, in a news release. "The information in the text provides a new chapter in the history of the ancient kingdom of Waka and its political relations with the most powerful kingdoms in the Classic period lowland Maya world."

Researchers believe that the stone was first dedicated about 1,450 years ago by the Wak dynasty King Wa'oom Uch'ab Tzi'kin, a title that translates roughly was "He Who Stands Up the Ofering of the Eagle."  After 100 years of withstanding the elements, though, the stone was eventually buried as an offering inside a temple around the year 700. It was probably part of the funeral rites for a queen entombed in the building at the time. 

The text itself features Lady Ikoom, a new queen at the time. One of two Snake dynasty princesses sent into arranged marriages with the rulers of Perú-Waka and another nearby Maya city in order to cement Snake control over this region of Guatemala, this woman was the predecessor to one of the greatest queens of Classic Maya civilization, the seventh-century Maya Holy Snake Lord known as Lady K'abel who ruled El Perú-Waka' for more than 20 years with her husband, King K'inich Bahlam II. 

The findings reveal a little bit more about this ancient city. In addition, it shows how the early politics of this area helped influenced the region in years to come.