The earliest archaeological materials recovered at Bonampak hark back to the Classic Period (250 A.D.), when the site became important.

Mayan society of Classic times had an agriculturally based subsistence economy which was complemented by the jungle's plentiful resources. The society was organized into several strata or classes to which individual inhabitants basically belonged by birth, through marriage, or by learning some specialized trade.

At the top of this social pyramid was a tribute-dependent nobility headed by a lord who ruled over a city and the area around it. Bonampak's first known ruler has been called Jaguar Bird. In Yaxchilan he is mentioned in the inscriptions there as one of the guests who attended the enthronement of Skull Mahk'ina I that site's fifth ruler and who reigned from 402 to 423 A.D.

The earliest inscribed monuments found at Bonampak refer to a ruler known as Fish Face, who governed in the late fifth century. Unfortunately, these monuments are not in Mexico.

Subsequent rulers of Bonampak mentioned in the inscriptions are Knotted-Eye Jaguar (516 A>D.), Chaan Muan I (603 A.D.) and Ahua (683A.D.). But large gaps remain in the site's history for lack of exploration.

By 746 A.D. the inhabitants of the cities of Bonampak and Yaxchilan had defeated the people of the nearby city of Lacanha, who became vassals of Bonampak. Bonampak's age of splendor was reached during the reign of Knotted-Eye Jaguar II, who ascended to the throne in 743 A.D. His conquests are commemorated on lintel 3 of the Building of the Paintings.

As far as it is known, the last ruler of Bonampak was Chaan Muan II, who took over the throne in 776 A.D. He is remembered on stele 2, where he is shown with two women, possibly his mother and his wife, who belonged to the nobility of Yaxchilan. Magnificent stele 1 depicts the fifth anniversary of his reign in 780 A.D. Then stele 3 refers to his 10 years of government as of 785 A.D.

In 787, Chaan Muan II captured a prominent enemy, Ah-5-'Skull, a development reported on lintel 1 of the Buildings of the Paintings. His last acts are illustrated in the paintings of this building. The pictures show him presenting his son as the heir to the throne, as well as war preparations, which involved propitiatory self-sacrifices by the ruling family. Also shown is the development of the battle, including the taking of prisoners, who are sacrificed in a pompous ceremony with dances and more sacrifices.

All these developments took place between 790 and 792 A.D., and they mark the last happenings and the end of the lineage of the Bonampak lords. After that the city remained abandoned in the jungle for almost 12 centuries.