Fig. 70. Initial Series, showing head-variant numerals and period glyphs, from Zoömorph G at Quirigua.
In figure [70] is illustrated the Initial Series from Zoömorph G at Quirigua.[[158]] The introducing glyph appears in A1-B2 and is followed in C1-H1 by the Initial-series number. Glyphs C1 D1 record 9 cycles. The dots on the head for 9 in C1 are partially effaced. In C2 is the katun coefficient and in D2 the katun sign. The determining characteristic of the head for 7 appears in C2, namely, the scroll passing under the eye and projecting upward and in front of the forehead. See page [100] and figure [51], w. It would seem, then, at first sight that 7 katuns were recorded in C2 D2. That this was not the case, however, a closer examination of C2 will show. Although the lower part of this glyph is somewhat weathered, enough still remains to show that this head originally had a fleshless lower jaw, a character increasing its value by 10. Consequently, instead of having 7 katuns in C2 D2 we have 17 (7 + 10) katuns. Compare C2 with figure [53], j-m. In E1 F1, 15 tuns are recorded. The tun headdress in E1 gives the value 5 to the head there depicted (see fig. [51], n-s) and the fleshless lower jaw adds 10, making the value of E1 15. Compare figure [53], b-e, where examples of the head for 15 are given. Glyphs E2 and F2 represent 0 uinals and G1 H1 0 kins; note the clasped hand in E2 and G1, which denotes the 0 in each case. This whole number therefore reads 9.17.15.0.0. Reducing this to units of the first order by means of Table [XIII], we have:
| C1 | D1 = | 9 × | 144,000 = | 1,296,000 |
| C2 | D2 = | 17 × | 7,200 = | 122,400 |
| E1 | F1 = | 15 × | 360 = | 5,400 |
| E2 | F2 = | 0 × | 20 = | 0 |
| G1 | H1 = | 0 × | 1 = | 0 |
| ———— | ||||
| 1,423,800 | ||||
Deducting from this number all the Calendar Rounds possible, 75 (see Table [XVI]), and applying rules 1, 2, and 3 (pp. [139], [140], and [141], respectively), to the remainder, the terminal day reached will be 5 Ahau 3 Muan. The day is recorded in G2 H2. The day sign in H2 is quite clearly the grotesque head variant for Ahau in figure [16], j'-k'. The presence of the tun headdress in G2 indicates that the coefficient here recorded must have been either 5 or 15, depending on whether or not the lower part of the head originally had a fleshless lower jaw or not. In this particular case there is no room for doubt, since the numeral in G2 is a day coefficient, and day coefficients as stated in Chapter III, can never rise above 13. Consequently the number 15 can not be recorded in G2, and this form must stand for the number 5.
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGYBULLETIN 57 PLATE 13
OLDEST INITIAL SERIES AT COPAN—STELA 15