MEXICO CITY.- Cobá, the ancient Maya city of soaring pyramids and winding stone causeways in Quintana Roo, is finally giving up a monumental secret: the name of one of its most powerful rulers. Epigraphers have decoded an extensive new inscription that clearly identifies Ix Ch’ak Ch’een, a woman who governed the city—whose name means “chopped water”—back in the 6th century A.D.

The key to this revelation is the Foundation Stone (La Roca de la Fundación), a massive slab discovered just over a year ago near a water reservoir (aguada) within the Nohoch Mul Group. Its size and its direct association with a crucial water source immediately marked it as significant. Discovered by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) as part of the Promeza archaeological project, the stone's glyphs are now being meticulously read by experts like David Stuart of the University of Texas and Octavio Esparza Olguín of UNAM.

The Sixth-Century Sovereign

Despite some erosion on the surface, conservation efforts have allowed the epigraphers to piece together an astonishing historical narrative. According to Esparza Olguín, this find is fundamental, providing unprecedented data on Cobá's dynasty during the Classic period.

The inscription contains key dates and events, including the date May 12, 569 A.D., which appears to mark the beginning of a powerful institution called the kaloomte’ in a location associated with the Nohoch Mul Group. The person tied to this pivotal moment is the female ruler, Ix Ch’ak Ch’een.

Her name, now confirmed on this new monument, ties together existing fragments of Cobá's history. Experts had previously spotted her name on other monuments, including Stela 30, though with slight variations (like Ix Ch’ak Ch’een Yopaat). The close alignment of dates across the different stones, including a mention of the end of a k’atun cycle in 573 A.D., confirms they all refer to the same powerful sovereign.

A Web of Royal Power

The Foundation Stone doesn't just name her; it details her enthronement (though the date remains elusive) and her connection to the site's patron deities, like Bolon Tz’akab Ajaw (“Lord of Innumerable Generations”). These passages place the Queen directly within Cobá’s foundational myths and its ruling lineage.

Furthermore, the text alludes to a cosmic entity, the witz’ snake, a deity tied to water sources, underscoring the vital importance of the Nohoch Mul aguada to the royal dynasty.

Perhaps the most intriguing clue is a possible political alliance. By comparing the Cobá inscription with texts from the nearby site of Okop, researchers infer a link between Queen Ix Ch’ak Ch’een and Testigo Cielo (Witness Sky), a major ruler from the powerful Kaanul kingdom. While the exact nature of this high-level political tie remains a mystery, the ongoing research promises to paint a much clearer picture of who truly held power in Cobá during the Maya Classic era.