218 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
fine example of this class is conserved in the American 
Museum of Natural History. The documents from 
southern Mexico are distinguished by details of geomet- 
ric ornament that resemble the panels of geometric 
design on the temples of Mitla. They record historical 
Fig. 79. A Year Symbol from Southern Mexico. It is combined 
with the four year bearers, House, Rabbit, Reed, and Stone. In 
the second detail the day 6 Serpent in the year 12 Rabbit is recorded. 
Fig. 80. Year Bearers in the Codex Porfirio Diaz ascribed to the 
Cuicatecan tribe: Wind, Deer, Herb, and Movement. 
events, give astronomical information and present much 
pictographic evidence on various ceremonies and 
religious usages. In giving a date a somewhat different 
method is used than we have seen in the historical 
records from the Valley of Mexico. There is a definite 
year sign (Fig. 79) and with it is the year bearer, or 
initial day of the year, and often the particular day of 
the event. Unfortunately, this is not entirely satis- 
