MORLEY] INTRODUCTION TO STUDY OF MAVA HIEKOOLYPHS 195 



These two minor ;uiti({iiities have several points in eomnion. Both 

 are made of the same material (nephrite) and both have their glyphs 

 incised instead of carved. More important, however, than these 

 similarities is the fact that the Initial Series recorded on each of them 

 has for its cycle coefficient the numeral 8; in other words, both record 

 dates which fell in the cycle immediately preceding that of the his- 

 toric period, or Cycle 9. Finally, at least one of these two Initial 



\ 'i 



\ 1 



I (!:••■? 



Fig. 73. The Initial Series on the Tuxtla Statuette, the oldest Initial Series known (in the early part of 



Cycle 8). 



Series (that on the Leyd(ni Plate), if indeed not both, records a date 

 so near the opening of tlie liistoric period, wliich we may assume 

 occurred about 9.0.0.0.0 8 Ahau 13 Ceh in round numbers, that it may 

 be considered as belonging to the historic period, and hence con- 

 stitutes the earliest historical inscription from the Maya territory. 



