THOMAS] 



SIGNIFICATION OF THE NUMERAL SERIES 



293 



It is apparent from these quotations that both (xoodman and Seler 

 hohl tlie opinion that the terminal date in an initial series is intended 

 to indicate the time when the monument was erected, though the 

 lapse of time given bj- Goodman (wlio does not seem to object to long 

 periods) to the dates of erection of the various monuments differs 

 very widely from that alloAved by Seler. The differences I have 

 indicated are, as was stated above, limited to those which remain 

 after rejecting those which seem doubtful. 



Let us discuss this cxuestiou on the data furnished by the inscrip- 

 tions and Dresden codex, taking, where there are not good giounds 

 for objecting to them, the interpretations of the initial series l)y Good- 

 man and Seler. Differences in the numbers of the periods or orders 

 of units below that which Goodman terms " katun" have no bearing 

 in this discussion. In order that the reader may have the data before 

 his eje, I give below ;i list of the initial series, retaining, for con- 

 venience, Goodman's great cycle numbers. The numbers at the left 

 ai'e merely for reference. 



Pctlc7ique 



