14 
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, TECHNICAL PAPERS 
terminal glyph, it is of course possible that 
another glyph followed. For many years 
the Initial Series on the Tuxtla statuette 
was accepted without much question as 
the earliest authenticated contemporary re¬ 
corded American date. In recent years, 
however, doubts have been expressed by 
some investigators on the grounds that the 
style of the Initial Series resembles those 
in the Dresden Codex in that the bars and 
dots are arranged in a horizontal position 
and do not have their corresponding period 
glyphs. It has likewise been said that the 
cursive style of the glyphs is similar to that 
of very late glyphs from Yucatan, and that 
they might have been incised on the figurine 
long after the statuette itself was originally 
carved. Furthermore, being small, the ob¬ 
ject could have been easily transported far 
from its place of origin. 
LINTEL 49, YAXCHILAN 
The discovery of Stela “C” with its stylis¬ 
tically similar Initial Series would seem to 
authenticate the Tuxtla statuette and to 
furnish new evidence as to the probable 
contemporaneity of its date. The fact that 
Stela “C” was unquestionably carved near 
the spot where found likewise indicates the 
probable local origin of the Tuxtla statuette. 
On the carved stone Lintel 49 at Yax- 
chilan 1 is a small Initial Series without 
accompanying period glyphs, introducing 
glyph or terminal date (figure 12). It is 
incised on the smooth area of one of the 
glyphs which make up the inscription cover¬ 
ing the lintel. Morley dates this lintel as 
9-5-0-0-0 but reads the Initial Series as 
8-7-12-4-11. The presence of an Initial 
Series of this type on an early Baktun 9 
carving at least demonstrates that this style 
of recording was not confined to the late pe¬ 
riod to which the existing codices belong. 
While it is pure speculation, this particular 
inscription may refer back to an archaic 
method of recording characteristic of the 
time indicated, as we might refer to an early 
date in Roman numerals. 
In view of the foregoing, I believe that 
there is good evidence that the inscription 
on Stela U C” represents a contemporary 
Initial Series date. I do not, however, wish 
to create the impression that I consider it 
conclusive proof. Our knowledge concern¬ 
ing the important marginal area lying west 
of the Maya region is as yet woefully in¬ 
complete. I feel confident that when ade¬ 
quate researches have been conducted in 
this area all of the problems discussed 
above will be satisfactorily solved. 
1 Morley, Peten, Vol. II, p. 377, Plates 24 and 
113. 
AN INITIAL SERIES FROM TRES ZAPOTES 
15 
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Blom, Frans 
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