Te K’ab Chaak, who ascended to the throne in 331 AD, is believed to have established the framework for a dynasty that would endure for over 460 years. His burial, located beneath a royal family shrine in the Northeast Acropolis, marks the first clear identification of a Maya ruler’s tomb at Caracol in all these years of excavation. Rich Burial Contents Illuminate Early Maya CosmologyThe interment of Te K’ab Chaak featured remarkable artifacts that reveal much about both Maya mortuary practices and interactions with distant Mesoamerican cultures. Personal Details of a Long-Gone KingOsteological analysis indicates that Te K’ab Chaak was approximately 5′7″ tall, toothless, and likely of advanced age at his death. Diplomatic Initiatives and Monumental PowerThe Chases interpret these finds as evidence that early Maya rulers like Te K’ab Chaak were active participants in regional politics, forging formal diplomatic ties with distant polities.