It will be noted that this date 9.18.10.0.0 10 Ahau 8 Zac is just 5.0.0 (5 tuns) later than the date recorded by the Initial Series on Zoömorph P at Quirigua (see pl. [6], A). As explained in Chapter II (pp. [33]-[34]), the interval between succeeding monuments at Quirigua is in every case 1,800 days, or 5 tuns. Therefore, it would seem probable that at Quirigua at least this period was the unit used for marking the lapse of time. As each 5-tun period was completed, its close was marked by the erection of a monument, on which was recorded its ending date. Thus the writer believes Zoömorph P marked the close of the 5-tun period ending 9.18.5.0.0 4 Ahau 13 Ceh, and Stela I, the 5-tun period next following, that ending 9.18.10.0.0
10 Ahau 8 Zac. In other words, Zoömorph P and Stela I were two successive time-markers, or "period stones," in the chronological record at Quirigua. For this 5-tun period so conspicuously recorded in the inscriptions from the older Maya cities the writer would suggest the name hotun, ho meaning 5 in Maya and tun being the name of the 360-day period. This word has an etymological parallel in the Maya word for the 20-tun period, katun, which we have seen may have been named directly from its numerical value, kal being the word for 20 in Maya and kaltun contracted to katun, thus meaning 20 tuns. Although no glyph for the hotun has as yet been identified,[[126]] the writer is inclined to believe that the sign in figure [67], a, b, which is frequently encountered in the texts, will be found to represent this time period. The bar at the top in both a and b, figure [67], surely signifies 5; therefore the glyph itself must mean "1 tun." This form recalls the very unusual variant of the tun from Palenque (see fig. [29], h). Both have the wing and the (*
) element.
The next Initial Series presented (see pl. [6], D) is from Stela 24 at Naranjo.[[127]] The text opens with the introducing glyph, which is in the same relative position as the introducing glyph in the other Naranjo text (pl. [6], B) at A1. Then follows regularly in B1-B3 the number 9.12.10.5.12, the numbers and period glyphs of which are all expressed by normal forms. By this time the student should have no difficulty in recognizing these and in determining the number as given above. Reducing this according to rule 1, page [134], the following result should be obtained:
| B1 = | 9 × | 144,000 = | 1,296,000 |
| A2 = | 12 × | 7,200 = | 86,400 |
| B2 = | 10 × | 360 = | 3,600 |
| A3 = | 5 × | 20 = | 100 |
| B3 = | 12 × | 1 = | 12 |
| ———— | |||
| 1,386,112 | |||
Deducting[[128]] from this number all the Calendar Rounds possible, 73 (see preliminary rule, p. [143], and Table [XVI]), we may reduce it to 572 without affecting its value in so far as the present calculations are concerned (1,386,112 - 1,385,540). First applying rule 1, page [139], and next rule 2, page [140], to this number (572), the student will find the day reached to be 4 Eb. And applying rule 3, page [141], he will find that the year position reached will be 10 Yax;[[129]] hence, the terminal date as determined by calculation will be 4 Eb 10 Yax.
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGYBULLETIN 57 PLATE 7
