A mystery story within a mystery , the enigmatic Snake - Head dynasty overtop part of the Maya world during the seventh century CE , only to inexplicably evaporate shortly before thecollapse of the Mayan civilisation itself . More than a 100 since archaeologists come across the first shreds of evidence point to the existence of this powerful rule family , excavations in Belize may now have yielded a lack spell of the teaser , finally fill up in the gap in the history .
Described in theThe Precolumbian Art Research Institute Journal , the latest finding dwell of a series of Harlan Fisk Stone panels cross in hieroglyphs that allude to a dramatic civil war between two half - brothers , leading to a split in the Snake - Head dynasty and resulting in its relocation from its original seat in Dzibanche to Calakmul , both of which are in the Yucatan Peninsula in Southern Mexico .
The panels were unwrap in the summer of 2016 , alongside a bombastic tomb at the ruins of Xunantunich in Belize . apart from being one of the largest Maya graves discovered in the part , the fence in temple is also highly unusual in that it appears to have been constructed for the sole purpose of housing the tomb , whereas the Brobdingnagian majority ofMaya burial sitesare reckon to have been dug into pre - existing temples .
Archaeologist Jorge Can uncovering the stone panels at Xunantunich . Kelsey Sullivan / The Precolumbian Art Research Institute Journal
Described as a brawny male in his twenties , the occupant of the grave remains as yet unknown , although research worker believe he may have been the rule of the situation at some point in the seventh century .
The panel are thought to be part of a large monument that was erected in the twelvemonth 642 by K’an II , king of a metropolis calledCaracol , which was loyal to the Snake - Head dynasty . The monument tells the tale not only of the dynasty ’s rise , but also Caracol ’s military triumph over the neighboring city of Naranjo in 626 and 631 .
In 680 , however , Naranjo had its retaliation , defeating Caracol and dispersing the stone panels throughout its ally settlements . research worker had previously discovered some of these stones at Naranjo itself , where they appeared to have been deliberately rearranged to deform the taradiddle of Caracol ’s previous victories . Archaeologists have therefore been playing catch - up ever since , as they attempt to recover the missing gemstone and fill up in the gaps in the Snake - Head taradiddle .
Having now find the panels at Xunantunich , investigator believe they finally have the full floor , complete with all its dramatic twists and turning . According to the hieroglyphic , the dynasty was ruled by a top executive called Waxaklajuun Ubaah Kan during its final Day at Dzibanche . However , a figure named Yukno’m , who may have been the Martin Luther King ’s half - blood brother , get up to jut as the heading of a rival faction , struggle under the same Snake - Head emblem as his sibling .
This trigger a split in the ranks of the dynasty , ultimately leading to its relocation to Calakmul , under the rule of Yukno’m . It was after this that the family get to spread its tentacles throughout the Yucatan Peninsula , direct over a number of neighboring settlement and establishing itself as a major political and military force out .
In notice these missing spell of the teaser , the researchers have finally undone the work of Naranjo ’s ruler , whose emblematic censor ofCaracol ’s victoriesalso condemn the Snake - Head dynasty to historical obscurity . As such , the study authors state that “ whereas the intention of Naranjo kings may have been to hush up a brilliant part of Caracol ’s chronicle , we are incredibly fortunate to be able to pick up the piece and reconstruct much of this once forgotten history . ”
The Hieroglyoh - covered panel severalise the story of sibling rivalry and civic war within the Snake - Head dynasty . Christophe Helmke / The Precolumbian Art Research Institute Journal
