286 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



given, proved to be the earliest monument yet found at this site, 

 recording the date 9.2.10.0.0 of the Maya Era, or approximately 210 

 A. D. (see fig. 2 b). 



The circumstances surrounding the discovery of this particular frag- 

 ment are of special interest because of the Ught they shed upon a com- 

 mon Maya practice throughout the period of the Old Empire, namely, 

 the re-use of earlier monuments in later constructions. This piece was 

 found near the southwestern corner of the village plaza, 3 feet below 

 the present level of the ground. It rested directly upon the founda- 

 tion stone of Stela 7, in the support of which it seems to have been used. 

 But the date of Stela 7 is 9.9.0.0.0 of the Maya Era, approximately 

 340 A. D. ; in other words, Stela 24 was broken up and re-used in the 

 foundations of this later monument 130 years after the date upon which 

 it was originally erected (210 A. D.). This practice was known to 

 have been common during the Middle and Great Periods of the Old 

 Empire, but the present case is the first example of its occurrence as 

 far back as the Early Period.^ 



The front and back of Stela 24 are inscribed with hieroglyphs, the 

 sides being left plain, though dressed smooth. The single fragment was 

 recovered from about 3 feet below the surface and presents the cycle, 

 katun, tun, uinal, and day signs, all perfectly preserved and permit- 

 ting the certain decipherment of the date as given above. 



x\nother interesting point in connection with this monument is that 

 it records a half katun ending (lahuntun), just like Stelse 15 and 9, 

 the next two earliest monuments at Copan; furthermore, each is 40 

 years apart from the next. Indeed, it is probable that the marking of 

 the first and third quarters of the katuns (hotuns) did not commence 

 until later, about the close of the Early Period.^ 



Stela 24, 9.2.10.0.0, approx. 210 A. D. 

 Stela 15, 9.4.10.0.0, approx. 250 A. D. 

 Stela 9, 9 . 6 . 10 . . 0, approx. 290 A. D. 



Stela 24 is 3 years earUer than the earliest date yet deciphered at 

 Tikal and indicates that the antiquity of Copan, the southern Maya 

 metropolis, may yet be found to exceed that of her great northern rival.^ 



A very fine altar of the Great Period, called W was discovered in a 

 small plaza about a half mile east of the Main Group on the western 

 bank of the river. The front was sculptured with a representation of 

 the two-headed monster, and the back and sides with hieroglyphs. 

 Many of the signs are the unusual full-figure variants, and the dedica- 

 tory date would appear to have been the hotun ending 9.17.5.0.0, 



^To avoid confusion, the name of the earliest period of the Old Empire has been changed from 

 Archaic to Early. It has appeared advisable to reserve the word Archaic for that truly archaic 

 civilization, probably of Nahua origin, which overran the greater part of Mexico and Central 

 America some time prior to the first period of Maya florescence. 



'The earliest first or third quarter of a katun now known is that recorded on Stela 25 at Piedras 

 Negras, namely, 9.8.15.0.0, approximately 335 A. D. 



^For further data relating to this question, see Year Book No. 15, pp. 339-341. 



