The site of Comalcalco was first visited by American anthropologist Carl Berendt in 1869, but reported only in 1880 by the French explorer Desiré Charnay. At the beginning of the 20th century Frans Blom and Oliver La Farge described the site and provided a first map in their volume Tribes and Temples.
In the mid-20th century archaeological excavations at the site were carried out by Gordon Ekholm of the American Museum of Natural History, who first noticed the peculiarity of Comalcalco architecture, which uses fired bricks as construction elements or architectural veneers for buildings. Since the 60's the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History has conducted excavations and restoration work at the site which is open to the public.
- Guide to the Maya Civilization
- Mesoamerican Timeline
