132 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



chiquel and Quiche calendars of Guatemala. All of 

 these calendars prove to be identical and an equation is 

 established by which Katun 2 Ahau is found to end on 

 July 26, Julian Calendar, 1516, and to be equivalent to 

 12.8.0.0.0, 2 Ahau 3 Pop in the Long Count. According 

 to this the first day of the Mayan Era is November 10, 

 3485 B.C. But the earliest date on a monument, which 

 can be regarded as historical, falls a century before the 

 time of Christ. 



Summary of Mayan History. A brief summary 

 of Mayan history is given below : — 



Protohistoric Period 

 Before 176 A.D.— 9.0.0.0.0 

 During this period the calendar and hieroglyphic 

 systems were being developed. The earliest date 

 is the somewhat doubtful one on the Tuxtla Stat- 

 uette (96 B. C). The next earliest date is the assured 

 one on the Leiden Plate (61 A. D.). Several early 

 monuments at a site in northern Guatemala called 

 Uaxactun have recently been discovered by Mr. S. G. 

 Morley. They carry dates in the eighth cycle. 



Early Period 

 176 A.D. to 373 A.D.— 9.0.0.0.0 to 9.10.0.0.0 

 During this period the great cities of the south 

 had their start. Enormous mounds were erected and 

 temples were built upon them. Public squares were 

 laid out and in these were set up stelae and altars. The 

 earliest deciphered date at the great city of Tikal 

 is 9.2.0.0.0 (216 A.D.) on Stela 24. Several monu- 

 ments at this city are carved in a still earlier style. 

 The earliest dates at Copan follow closelv on those of 

 Tikal. 





