Archaeologists have found a treasure trove of history hidden deep in the Mexican jungle on the edge of the Yucatan Peninsula. There, in the long-abandoned ancient Mayan city of Coba, near the towering pyramid of Nohoch Mul, a massive stone slab was found that had once been buried at the bottom of a sacred pool. What makes the slab so special is what it bears: a text consisting of 123 glyphs meticulously carved into its surface.

Initial analysis shows that the glyphs identify the founding date of the city, called Keh Vitz Nal or “Deer Mountain”, as May 12, 569 CE. They also mention a previously unknown Maya ruler as K’awil Ch’ak Cheen, a name evoking the Maya lightning god K’awil.

Other glyphs refer to deities believed to have founded Koba, including Bolon Ts’aqaba Ajau, ruler of countless generations.

Located in the present-day state of Quintana Roo on the eastern side of the Yucatán Peninsula, the once majestic but now ruined city of Coba may have been built by the Maya as early as 50 BC and was continuously inhabited for more than 1,500 years, with the most recent buildings constructed between 1,200 and 1500 AD. At its peak, it was a thriving cultural centre with a population of around 50,000.

Excavations at the site have been extensive and meticulous, and Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) is in no rush to uncover and restore the city’s monuments, temporarily lost to the jungle and time. A stone slab has been discovered at the bottom of what was once a pool, and it’s impressive. Covering an area of ​​11 square metres (118 square feet), the surface is meticulously carved with glyphs in an L-shaped arrangement that follows the shape of the stone.

Fourteen rulers, three of whom were women, had previously been identified at Koba, one of whom reigned for 40 years. Thanks to the new information contained in the highly stylized inscription, researchers have confirmed that most of these rulers adopted the name of the god Kavil. The inscription will be studied in more depth, but for now the team of archaeologists is focusing on restoring the stone and protecting it from further damage from water and erosion. A detailed, high-resolution 3D reconstruction has been created to allow for further study without damaging the stone.