The location of Jolja' on a white cliff is also important. On Don Juan Mountain to the west of Palenque is another white cliff face near the headwaters of a river, in this case, the Agua Blanca. Although not yet visited by outsiders, there is a pre-Columbian cave in this vicinity as well. In addition, Yaleltsemen Cave is also located on a white cliff with water pouring down its face.

Who were the ancient Maya who performed the rituals within Jolja' Cave? We may never have a complete answer to that question, but there are some intriguing clues found in the history of this region. During the Classic Period, the area surrounding the Tumbala/Tila region was controlled by three polities: Tortuguero, Palenque and Tonina. Jolja' Cave is at the edge of the Chiapas highlands that overlooks the coastal plain of Tabasco and the city of Tortuguero.

To the east is the narrow valley of the Ixtelja River, the low but steep Cordon Sumidero range (400 meters), the wide, fertile valley of the Tulija River, and the impressive Don Juan Mountain range (1200 meters). Palenque is located on the far side of this latter mountain range. Unlike other neighboring Classic Period cities that were in constant conflict with each other, Palenque and Tortuguero shared an emblem glyph and seem to have had a co-operative relationship. To the south of Jolja' Cave is an ancient route leading from Tumbala to Tonina in the central highland valley of Ocosingo.

To the west of Jolja' Cave is the summit of the 1,630 meter Misopa' Mountain and over that mountain range the valley of Tila. The Tila/Tumbala region of Chiapas has undergone very little archaeological investigation, but there is a stela from a site in the Tila valley that is dated 9.12.13.0.0 10 Ajaw 3 Sotz' (April 24, 685) attesting to the fact that this zone participated in Classic Maya culture.

When the Spanish arrived in this area at the end of the Postclassic Period, Tila was a well-established Ch'ol community and the neighboring Tzeltal town of Petalcingo was subject to its rule (Josserand and Hopkins 1997). The pacification of the Ch'ol Maya living in the adjacent lowlands involved moving them into newly created towns such as the modern town of Palenque or forcing them to move to established communities such as Tila, Tumbala and Bachajon. This area has thus had a long occupation by Ch'ol-speaking Maya.