Between 200 BCE and 200 CE, the city played a fundamental role in the development of the architectural style known as Petén. It was contemporary with major capitals such as Calakmul and Tikal—located in present-day Campeche and Guatemala, respectively—with which it shared the civilizational peak of the Maya Classic period (200 to 600 CE).

It is distinguished by having particularly tall structures within this cultural region, many of which exceed 40 meters in height and are commonly arranged in triadic groups.

As an archaeological site, Ichkabal was officially recorded on January 30, 1996. Since the 2000s, the INAH has carried out various efforts focused on archaeological surveying, cleaning, conservation, and restoration of monumental structures, stucco remains, and mural paintings. These efforts have been led by teams of specialists, including Luz Evelia Campaña, Javier López Camacho, Enrique Nalda Hernández, Hortensia de Vega Nova, and Sandra Balanzario Granados.