Mayan Tomb Belonged To ‘Warrior Queen’

A recently uncovered Mayan Tomb may hold the remains of the seventh century warrior queen Lady K’abel.

Researchers found several artifacts hinting at the fact that the tomb belonged to the warrior queen, but archaeologists David Freidel said that it’s hard to know for sure.

Freidel said:

“Nothing is ever proven in archaeology because we’re working with circumstantial evidence. But in our case we have a carved stone alabaster jar that is named K’abel’s possession.”

In addition to the jar at K’abel’s side, Freidel said that researchers also found carvings outside of the Mayan tomb that indicate it belonged to K’abel. They also found red spiny oyster shells on the remains which, according to the research team, was common for Queens at Waka’.

Freidel said:

“Late Classic queens at Waka’, including K’abel, regularly wore such a shell as a girdle ornament in their stela portraits while kings did not.”

According to the Huffington Post, K’abel was part of a royal family of Supreme Warriors. According to Freidel, K’abel had a higher place in society than her king husband, K’inich Bahlam. The warrior queen reigned from 672 to 692 A.D.

Archaeologists have been excavating El Perú-Waka’ since 2003. The most recent discovery has not found its way into a peer journal yet.

Here’s a video about the Warrior Queen’s Mayan Tomb.