By Joel Skidmore

revised 1-23-01*

In August, 1998, an exploratory trench in the ruins of Palenque's Temple XIX encountered a magnificent panel sculptured in painted stucco relief.

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* Please note that this report was written (and last revised) prior to the publication of David Stuart's "Longer Live the King: The Questionable Demise of K'inich K'an Joy Chitam of Palenque" (Stuart 2003), which presents a compelling argument that K'inich K'an Joy Chitam survived his captivity in Tonina and returned to rule in Palenque. It also preceded Stuart's suggestion (personal communication 2002) that the b'aah ch'ok Upakal K'inich was the brother rather than the son of K'inich Ahkal Mo' Nahb' III (also see Stuart 2005:40).