216 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 57 



series part of this text therefore in A1-B9, Bl3, is perfectly regular 

 and reads as follows: 9.16.5.0.0 8 Ahau 8 Zotz. The Secondary Series, 

 however, are unusual and differ in several respects from the ones 

 heretofore presented. 



The first Secondary Series inscribed on tliis monument (see fig. 

 79, A) is at B1-B2. This series the student should readily decipher 

 as 3 kins, 13 uinals, 11 tuns, and katuns, which we may \ATite 

 0.11.13.3. TMs number presents one feature, which, so far as the 

 WTiter knows, is unique in the whole range of Maya texts. The highest 

 order of imits actually involved in this number is the tun, but for 

 some unknown reason the ancient scribe saw fit to add the katun 



sign also, B2, which, how- 

 ever, he proceeded to nul- 

 lify at once by attaching 

 to it the coefficient 0. For 

 in so far as the numerical 

 value is concerned, 11.13.3 

 and 0.11.13.3 are equal. 

 The next peculiarity is 

 that the date which fol- 

 lows this number in B3-A4 

 is not its terminal date, as 

 we have every reason to 

 expect, but, on the con- 

 trary, its starting point. 

 In other words, m this 

 Secondary Series the starting point follows instead of precedes the 

 number counted from it. This date is very clearly 12 Caban 5 Kayab ; 

 compare B3 with the sign for Caban in figure 16, a', h', and A4 with 

 the sign for Kayab in figure 19, d'-f. So far as Stela J is concerned 

 there is no record of the position which tliis date occupied in the Long 

 Count; that is, there are no data by means of which its Initial Series 

 may be calculated. Elsewhere at Quirigua, however, this date is re- 

 corded twice as an Initial Series and in each place it has the same 

 value, 9.14.13.4.17. We may safely conclude, therefore, that the date 

 in A3-B4 is 9.14.13.4.17 12 Caban 5 Kayab, and use it m our cal- 

 culations as such. Reducing 0.11.13.3 to units of the first order, we 

 have: 



B2= 0X7, 200 = 



A2 = llx 360 =3,960 

 B1 = 13X 20 = 260 

 Bl= 3X 1 = 3 



Fig. 79. The Secondary Series on Stela J, Quirigua. 



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