106 



MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



columns. But we can partially transcribe a Mayan 

 number in imitation of our own system by marking 

 dashes between the positions or periods. The number in 

 five positions given below is transcribed as 9.12.16.7.8. 



9 



X 



144000 



1,296,000 



12 



X 



7200 



86,400 



16 



X 



360 



5,760 



7 



X 



20 



140 



8 



X 



1 



8 



1,388,308 



Fig. 38. Face Numerals found in Mayan Inscriptions. In most 

 cases these are the faces of gods. Reading from left to right : the values 

 are 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10. 



Fig. 39. The Normal Forms of the Period Glyphs. Reading from 

 left to right: batun, katun, tun, uinal, kin. 



Fig. 40. Face Forms of Period Glyphs. From left to right : introduc- 

 ing glyph, baktun, katun, tun, uinal, kin. 



We read this date: 9 baktuns (or cycles), 12 katuns, 

 16 tuns, 7 uinals, and 8 kins. It is convenient to re- 

 member that a tun is a little less than a year, a katun a 



