The early capital of the Kaanul, or Kaan, dynasty before Calakmul was Dzibanche. Located in what is now southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, Dzibanche was the original seat of the powerful Snake kingdom.
The site was already occupied by the Preclassic period, but it rose to prominence during the Early Classic era. Its monuments contain evidence of the Kaan dynasty’s political expansion, including an early Kaan emblem glyph dated to AD 495. From Dzibanche, the dynasty built influence through warfare, alliances, and control over other Maya centers.
Around the late sixth or early seventh century, the dynasty shifted its main political seat to Calakmul, farther southwest. Calakmul then became the better-known center of Kaanul power and a major rival of Tikal. This change can cause confusion: Calakmul was the dynasty’s later capital and most famous headquarters, while Dzibanche was its earlier capital and likely place of origin. Naranjo and Tikal were important Maya cities, but neither served as the early capital of the Kaanul dynasty.