74 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
Spinden supposed the fragment found by him to be a part of Stela 18, 
but its inscription indicates that this could not have been the case. 
This fragment, as just noted, was clearly from the middle part of a 
monument. This fact is established by internal evidence in the text itself 
on the front (see plate 9, b, and figure 9), which unmistakably records a com- 
plete Supplementary Series. 
Let us analyze this evidence further. 
So far as the writer knows, there is not a 
single instance in the Maya inscriptions 
where a Supplementary Series is recorded 

avle . . ° aa = ee ee 
t at an Initial Series does not immediately iz 
precede it; but the reverse of this propo- idaobii cae 
ae ae PLS FY hs re tae 
sition does occur, 7. ¢., the record of an 
Initial Series without an accompanying 
Supplementary Series, although rarely. 
Therefore it is safe to conclude that the 
fragment shown in plate 9, b was originally 
preceded by one or more fragments which 
presented an Initial Series. 
The last glyph Sy gniaZ in plate 9, 
b isthe month-sign © © “ ofan Initial 
Series terminal date,! but unfortunately the 
fracture runs across its lower half, and 
beyond the fact that the coefficient is surely 
3, it is difficult to determine at first inspec- 
tion what month-sign was recorded here. 
Making the same postulate as in the 
case of Stela 25 (p. 70), namely, that the 
Initial Series of Stela 20, whatever it was, 
recorded a katun, lahuntun, or at least a 
hotun? ending in the Early Period, it will be ,¢ 11—Diagram showing probable assem- 
shown presently that the possible readings blage of Fragments) team 
for this Initial Series, which could have 
had a month coefficient of 3, under our postulate are limited to ten. 
Further, the fact that the month coefficient of the Initial Series terminal 
date on Stela 20 is 3, is at least strong presumptive evidence that we have 
here either a katun, lahuntun, or hotun ending, since these only could end 
1That this glyph could possibly be the day of the Initial Series terminal date would appear highly unlikely 
from what is left of it. The part preserved looks like a superfix, 7. ¢., it curves in at both ends, and is ornamented 
with lines unlike any known forms of the day-sign cartouche. This in itself renders such a possibility extremely 
remote, even if such a position for the day-sign were not contrary to the general practice of recording the day at 
the end of the Initial Series number, and not at the end of the Supplementary Series. Out of 80 Initial Series, only 
7.5 per cent. were found to have the Initial Series terminal date follow the Supplementary Series. See Morley, 
1916, p. 368, note I. 
2The term “hotun” has been suggested by the writer for the quarter katun or 5-tun period, “ho” being the 
Maya word for five. This whole question, 7. ¢., what chronological considerations controlled the erection of the 
stele, a matter which very closely touches their probable function and significance, is extensively reviewed in 
Appendix VII, and also in Morley, 19172. 
wee = = —----- 
ee ee 

