Texas husband-wife team finds ‘priceless' royal tomb filled with 1,700-year-old treasures
Arlen Chase and Diane Chase, both professors at the University of Houston, uncovered the 4th-century tomb at the Caracol archaeological site in Belize.
The university shared the discovery on July 10.
Caracol was a major Mayan city established in the 300s A.D.
The tomb belonged to Te' K'ab Chaak, the earliest ruler of the city and the founder of its royal dynasty – and it's the first confirmed royal tomb found at the site.
'Now in ruins, this metropolis was a major political player in Maya history, dominating the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula from 560 through 680 AD before its abandonment by 900 AD,' the University of Houston said in its press release.
Teʼ Kʼab Chaak's tomb was filled with treasures, including 11 pottery vessels and carved bone tubes. Excavators also found a mosaic death mask made of jadeite, along with jewelry made from the same type of gemstone.
7 Arlen Chase and Diane Chase discovered the tomb of a legendary king.
University of Houston
The Chases are the foremost scholars on Caracol, and this latest excavation is just one of many they've conducted.
Their son, Adrian, is also an archaeologist and discovered Caracol's decentralized water system.
Judging from the ruler's remains, the Chases also found that Te' K'ab Chaak was 5'7 in height and died at an advanced age.
7 The 4th-century tomb was found at the Caracol archaeological site in Belize.
University of Houston
He also had no remaining teeth.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Arlen Chase called the recently unearthed artifacts 'priceless.'
'Professional archaeologists will not put a dollar value on the items they dig up … That being said, the true value of the materials is in what they can tell us about the ancient culture,' the expert described.
'In this case, most of the individual artifacts are unique, but together they not only tell a story about the individual who once owned them but also enable us to provide a date for the burial.'
7 The tomb belonged to Te' K'ab Chaak.
University of Houston
7 The tomb was filled with treasures.
University of Houston
7 An ancient bowl and lid were among the many items recovered.
University of Houston
Arlen Chase said the artifacts date to 350 A.D. and 'include a full range of vessel types for this time period,' including two from the Highlands of Guatemala and shells from the Pacific Ocean.
Both these types of treasures, he noted, were the 'result of long-distance trade.'
Arlen Chase also confirmed that archaeologists identified the burial 'based on the size of his chamber, the presence of jadeite mosaic death mask and earflares, and everything being covered in cinnabar.'
7 Diane Chase noted that finding a ruler's burial is 'extremely unusual, and important.'
University of Houston
Diane Chase told Fox News Digital that the ceramic vessels in particular really showed off Teʼ Kʼab Chaak's status and wealth.
'The two Pacific spondylus shells near his head, the jadeite earflares, the carved jadeite tubular beads, and the mosaic jadeite death mask also show his ability to obtain long-distance prestige items,' she noted.
A car trip between Teotihuacan and Caracol today would take over 23 hours. Ancient people would have had to walk at least 153 days to complete the journey, making the burial offerings particularly special.
7 The couple teaches at the University of Houston.
University of Houston
Above all, Diane Chase noted that finding a ruler's burial is 'extremely unusual, and important.'
She said, 'This is the first one we have discovered within the ancient city of Caracol.'
She added, 'Even more important, he is the first ruler of the Caracol dynasty with some 30 other rulers following him (according to the hieroglyphic[s]) before the city was abandoned.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
ProMIS Neurosciences to Showcase Protein-Misfolding Drug Discovery Platform & PRECISE-AD Trial Design at the 2025 Alzheimer's Association International Conference
Presentation to highlight the Company's proprietary protein-misfolding platform, EpiSelectTM, used to develop PMN310 Posters highlighting PRECISE-AD, the Company's Phase 1b clinical trial design and optimization of biomarkers in AD Progress with trial enrollment following DSMB recommendation to proceed to second dose level CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts , July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ProMIS Neurosciences Inc. (Nasdaq: PMN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies selective for toxic oligomers associated with the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD), today announced it has been invited to present an overview of its ongoing PRECISE-AD trial in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and its proprietary Discovery Platform, EpiSelectTM, at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2025 (AAIC) taking place in Toronto, Canada from July 27-31, 2025. 'We are pleased to share further details of our ongoing Phase 1b PRECISE-AD clinical trial evaluating PMN310, our novel therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease,' said Dr. Larry Altstiel, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of ProMIS Neurosciences. 'PRECISE-AD was intentionally designed with a robust framework to assess both the safety and potential signs of efficacy of PMN310. PMN310 is designed to selectively target toxic amyloid-beta oligomers, which are considered a primary driver of Alzheimer's disease, while aiming to reduce the risk of safety issues observed with other therapies. We were encouraged by the recent recommendation from the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) to proceed to the second dose level, and we have been enrolling patients swiftly into this second cohort.' 'As of this week, more than 50% of the approximately 128 patients planned for the study have been enrolled, reflecting the pace of our clinical progress and the urgent need for new treatment options. To date, we have not observed any cases of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), including brain swelling or microhemorrhages. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted Fast Track designation to PMN310, which we believe recognizes the potential of this program to address an unmet medical need in Alzheimer's disease. We anticipate reporting six-month interim data from the study in the second quarter of 2026, with topline results expected by the fourth quarter of 2026,' added Dr. Altstiel. 'The rapid enrollment in PRECISE-AD is a testament to the urgent need to bring new breakthroughs in treatment to Alzheimer's patients and providers,' Dr. David Watson, Chief Executive and Founder of the Alzheimer's Research and Treatment Center and one of the treating physicians in the PRECISE-AD trial stated. 'I am encouraged by the mechanism of ProMIS's PMN310, which has been designed to specifically target toxic Aβ oligomers, and has the potential to provide a more favorable product profile and significantly improve the quality of life of AD patients.' 'Additionally, we are pleased to have been invited to share data supporting the design process and validation of our proprietary target discovery engine, EpiSelectTM, which utilizes advanced computational discovery technologies to identify and target toxic misfolded proteins implicated in neurodegenerative and other misfolded protein diseases,' said Neil Cashman, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder, ProMIS Neurosciences. 'This precision targeting approach has enabled us to design novel therapeutic antibodies with a high degree of selectivity for the key underlying drivers of these conditions.' Presentation details Title: Protein misfolding-specific epitope identification for passive and active immunotherapy of neurodegenerative diseases Presenter: Neil Cashman, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder, ProMIS Neurosciences Session: Featured Research Session: Advancing Translational Success by Enhancing Predictive Validity in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Thursday, July 31, 2025: 10:00am – 11:30am Eastern Time Abstract Number: 98670 Title: PRECISE-AD, A Phase 1b, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multiple Ascending Dose Study of the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Preliminary Efficacy of PMN310 in Patients with Early Alzheimer's Disease Presenter: Larry Altstiel, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, ProMIS Neurosciences Session: In Person Poster: Drug Development: Human, Wednesday, July 30, 2025: 7:30am – 4:15pm Eastern Time Poster Number: 103159 Title: Leveraging recent advances in biomarkers to optimize early phase drug development in Alzheimer's Disease Joint Presenter: Garret Duncan, Statistician, Pentara Corporation and Johanne Kaplan, Ph.D., Chief Development Officer, ProMIS Neurosciences Session: In Person Poster: Biomarkers: Biomarkers (non-neuroimaging), Monday, July 28, 2025: 7:30am – 4:15pm Eastern Time Poster Number: 103841 Abstracts will be available on the Poster and Publications page of the Company's website at n following the presentations. About PMN310 and the PRECISE-AD Clinical Trial PMN310, the Company's lead product candidate for the treatment of AD, is a humanized monoclonal antibody that has been designed to be differentiated in its ability to selectively target only the toxic oligomers, avoiding plaque, thereby potentially reducing or eliminating ARIA liability. In addition, because PMN310 may not be limited by off-target binding or side effects, PMN310 could potentially offer an improved efficacy profile over other amyloid-directed antibody therapeutics. Based on the encouraging results from the Phase 1a trial ( NCT06105528 ) of PMN310, ProMIS initiated PRECISE-AD, a Phase 1b clinical trial in AD patients. PRECISE-AD ( NCT06750432 ) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) of multiple ascending doses (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) of intravenous PMN310 in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to AD and mild AD (Stage 3 and Stage 4 AD). PRECISE-AD will be the first study to examine the effects of a monoclonal antibody directed solely against AβO on biomarkers associated with AD pathology and clinical outcomes. Safety will be a primary outcome of the study with particular emphasis on assessing whether, as a non-plaque binder, PMN310 may have a reduced risk of ARIA. The study is powered to provide 95% confidence for detection of ARIA. The study has been designed with a sample size intended to provide sufficient power to provide meaningful insight into effects of PMN310 on biomarkers and clinical outcomes. About ProMIS Neurosciences Inc. ProMIS Neurosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies selective for toxic oligomers associated with the development and progression of neurodegenerative and other misfolded protein diseases. The Company's proprietary target discovery engine, EpiSelect™, predicts novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins that cause neurodegenerative and other misfolded protein diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and Parkinson's Disease (PD). ProMIS has offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA) and Toronto, Ontario (CAN). Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, 'forward-looking information') within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'pleased to', 'look forward to', 'potential to', 'targets', 'expects' or 'does not expect', 'is expected', 'excited about', 'an opportunity exists', 'is positioned', 'estimates', 'intends', 'assumes', 'anticipates' or 'does not anticipate' or 'believes', or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might', 'will' or 'will be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved'. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Specifically, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company's progress and expectations for its Phase 1b clinical trial in AD patients, including planned timing for completion and anticipated data readout of interim and full results in the second and fourth quarters of 2026, repsectively, the potential for such studies to provide the first proof-of-concept data for PMN310, the potential for PMN310 to positively benefit patients with AD and to be a more effective and well-tolerated option, the targeting of toxic misfolded proteins in neurodegenerative diseases that the Company believes may directly address fundamental AD pathology (including the belief and understanding that toxic oligomers of Aβ are a major driver of AD) and have greater therapeutic potential due to reduction of off-target activity and the Company's expectations regarding the benefits of Fast Track Designation and management's belief that its proprietary target discovery engine can predict and identify toxic misfolded proteins implicated in the development and progression of neurodegenerative and other misfolded protein diseases. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's current expectations, estimates and projections regarding the future of our business, future plans, strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, the risk that enrollment may not continue at the current rate, that clinical results or early results may not be indicative of future results, the Company's ability to retain and recognize the incentives conferred by Fast Track Designation for PMN310, the Company's ability to fund its operations and continue as a going concern, its accumulated deficit and the expectation for continued losses and future financial results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking information include, among others, the factors discussed throughout the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in its subsequent filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking information, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. For further information: Visit us at Please submit media inquiries to info@ For Investor Relations, please contact: Kaytee Bock Zafereo
Scientific American
3 hours ago
- Scientific American
Archaeologists Stumble upon Tomb of Ancient Maya City's First Ruler
In C.E. 331, Te K'ab Chaak ascended to the throne as the first ruler of the ancient Maya city of Caracol in what is today Belize. Archaeologists have learned about him through writings from years after his death as they have excavated the city over the past 30 years. But it wasn't until this year that they found his tomb—completely by chance. The Maya civilization began around 2000 B.C.E. and endured for more than 3,000 years. It included multiple city-states, such as Chichen Itza in modern-day Mexico and Tikal in modern-day Guatemala. Caracol began as a collection of small settlements that coalesced around 650 B.C.E, and it later became one of the largest cities in Maya history. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. In February married archaeologists Diane and Arlen Chase, both at the University of Houston, were digging in a site they had excavated many times before. As they broke through the bottom of one tomb, they discovered another chamber underneath. 'If we continued one of our [excavations] 40 centimeters, we would have [found] it in a previous season,' Diane Chase says. After forming a small hole in the chamber wall, the team was able to peek inside and quickly confirm this was the tomb of someone special. 'We knew there was a body in there. We could see vessels; we could see red cinnabar [a red mineral powder]. It was pretty amazing, but it was covered with dirt, so we could see just the tops of this stuff poking out,' Arlen Chase says. Once they gained entry into the tomb, the researchers found pottery vessels, intricately carved bone tubes, jade jewelry and—rarest of all—a mosaic death mask. In 40 years of work, the team has only found one other death mask—at a different Maya site. Death masks 'are not that common,' Diane Chase says. 'There are not that many in the Maya world, so that told us [that the person buried in the tomb was] a ruler.' Although the tomb was distinctively Maya, previous findings from the site suggest that Te K'ab Chaak supported diplomatic relations between Maya people and those in Teotihuacan, an independent, non-Maya city in what is now Mexico that was later occupied by the Aztecs. Despite the 1,200 kilometers separating the two cities, burials the team had previously uncovered at the same site showed a cremation style that is distinctively Teotihuacan, not Maya, which placed the start of Teotihuacan interactions in the Maya region around C.E. 350, earlier than was previously estimated. And although previous theories posited that the people of Teotihuacan had invaded Maya cities, the artifacts from Caracol suggest the situation was far more nuanced, with both cultures being aware of and influenced by each other's practices. 'This is quite a significant discovery, considering that after 40 years of research, this is the first time a jadeite death mask has been recovered in the context of a royal tomb,' says Melissa Badillo, director of the Institute of Archaeology in Belize. Badillo was not involved in the discovery, but the Institute of Archaeology provided the research permit for the site. 'We anticipate that with continued research and analyses, we will learn a lot more about Te K'ab Chaak and his role in the development of Caracol.' The research team is still analyzing the contents of the burial chamber, reconstructing the jade death mask, and conducting DNA and isotope analyses on the skeletal remains. The researchers plan to present their findings in August at a meeting at the Santa Fe Institute.
Medscape
8 hours ago
- Medscape
JAK Inhibitors Raise Venous Thromboembolism Risk in AD
TOPLINE: JAK inhibitors demonstrated significantly higher risk for venous thromboembolism than dupilumab and methotrexate in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) in a retrospective study. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted three propensity score-matched analyses comparing patients with AD initiating JAK inhibitors with those receiving dupilumab (n = 1006), methotrexate (n = 958), or cyclosporine (n = 948) from the TriNetX global database. The mean patient age was 41.7-43.3 years; about 62% were women; 54% were White individuals, and 46% were non-White individuals across the groups. Study outcomes were the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) within 3 years of treatment initiation. TAKEAWAY: Among patients treated with JAK inhibitors, the risks for PE (hazard ratio [HR], 2.75; P = .014) and DVT (HR, 2.54; P = .017) were significantly higher, corresponding to eight and nine additional cases per 1000 patients (risk differences of 0.8% and 0.9%), respectively. The overall risk for stroke was comparable in the two groups. JAK inhibitors were associated with a higher risk for DVT (HR, 2.41; P = .017) than methotrexate, corresponding to seven additional cases per 1000 patients (risk difference of 0.7%). The risks for PE, MI, and stroke were similar in the two groups. Compared with cyclosporin, the researchers noted no significant differences in the 3-year risk for PE, DVT, stroke, or MI. IN PRACTICE: Based on the results, 'patients with AD initiating JAK inhibitors are at an elevated risk of PE and DVT as compared to those managed by dupilumab,' and JAK inhibitors 'were associated with an increased risk of DVT as compared to methotrexate,' the authors of the study wrote. These results, they concluded, 'support a cautious, individualized approach to the use of JAK inhibitors, particularly in patients with elevated baseline thromboembolic risk.' SOURCE: The study was led by Khalaf Kridin, Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany, and was published online on July 21 in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. LIMITATIONS: The study used retrospective observational data, and JAK inhibitors were analyzed as a class, not by individual drug or dose. DISCLOSURES: The study did not receive any funding, and the authors reported having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
