Apoch'Waal was an 8th-century

Maya Maya may refer to: Civilizations * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (Ethiopia), a populat ...

''lakam'', or standard-bearer. He inherited his father's position as ''lakam'' for the

ajaw Ajaw or Ahau ('Lord') is a pre-Columbian Maya political title attested from epigraphic inscriptions. It is also the name of the 20th day of the ''tzolkʼin'', the Maya divinatory calendar, on which a ruler's ''kʼatun''-ending rituals would fal ...

Calakmul Calakmul (; also Kalakmul and other less frequent variants) is a Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region. It is from the Guatemalan border. Calakmul was one of the large ...

, and acted as a diplomatic emissary between the ajaws of Calakmul and

Copán Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. This ancient Maya city mirrors the beauty of the physical landscape in which it flourished—a fert ...

. In 726 CE, Apoch'Waal successfully established an alliance between Calakmul and Copán, which he commemorated through a ceremonial platform and temple built for himself at El Palmar. This temple, labeled as Structure GZ1 at El Palmar, is also the site of Apoch'Waal's grave. Studies of his body have revealed insights into Maya elite life in the late

Classic period Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of prehispanic Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian (first human habitation until 3500 BCE); the Archaic (before 2600 BCE), the Preclassic or Formative (2500 BCE – ...

Tomb

Apoch'Waal's platform and temple was likely constructed at great expense, indicating the owner's wealth and power. In contrast, his sealed tomb contained just two decorated pots and his body when opened by archaeologists. This indicates that Apoch'Waal died during or after a period of significant political turbulence, and reveals the impact that period had on the ruling elites of Calakmul. His skeleton shows that he died a middle-aged man, between the age of 30 and 50; wear and tear on the bones show signs of

arthritis Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In som ...

in his hands, elbows, knees, and feet, suggesting a life of constant foot travel on rough terrain. Signs of childhood malnutrition suggest a harsh upbringing, despite his status as a high-ranking elite. Apoch'Waal had inlay dental modification done on his upper front teeth, fitting them with

jade Jade is a mineral used as jewellery or for ornaments. It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of ...

and

pyrite The mineral pyrite (), or iron pyrite, also known as fool's gold, is an iron sulfide with the chemical formula Iron, FeSulfur, S2 (iron (II) disulfide). Pyrite is the most abundant sulfide mineral. Pyrite's metallic Luster (mineralogy), lust ...

, with one apparently having fallen out without replacement long before his death, another sign that he had fallen on hard times.

References

{{mesoamerica-stub Maya people 8th-century diplomats