In April 2003, a further ballcourt excavations conducted by the archaeological team unearthed a spectacular find in the form of a small but finely carved and well preserved stone panel. According to archaeologists it is "one of the greatest masterpieces of Maya art ever discovered in Guatemala". This panel portrays Taj Chan Ahk presiding over a ceremony in the royal plaza of his second capital seat. The king, who is depicted centrally wearing a turtle headdress which provides a partial, iconographic spelling of his name, is joined by two flanking sublords.
Associated hieroglyphs date the event to the 9.18.5.0.0 period ending, in our calendar on September 15, 795. The king sits upon a personified HA' "water" glyph and within a quatrefoil, a supernatural scene that is referenced at other sites. This panel confirms the greatness of Taj Chan Ahk and his control of the entire upper Pasion River valley region in the late eighth century. This splendid panel is shown to an international public for the first time ever.
Panel 3 depicting the king of Cancuen appointing a subloard in the year 795 A.D.
Rock star and ball player
Taj Chan Ahk was the mightiest king of Cancuen. He built an enormous palace and ruled over a large area around the Pasión river. He was born in 742, became king in 757 and died in 796. Taj Chan Ahk had many roles: he was the king, the prime minister, the pope and he also acted like a rock star, actor and ball player.
The finding of the panel
The panel was well preserved, only the faces had been destroyed
