INSCRIPTIONS OF THE EARLY PERIOD. 107 
A1-B3__ Initial Series introducing glyph 
A4 9 cycles 
B4 9 katuns 
AS o tuns 
BS © uinals 
A6 o kins 
B6a 3 Ahau 
B8a 3 Zotz 
Although there are several other signs of familiar form, their meanings 
are unknown. ‘The texts on the two narrow sides also open with Initial 
Series introducing glyphs, although no Initial Series follows in either case. 
It should be noted that the variable central element is the same in all three 
of these signs, namely, a grotesque head, as is also true of the corresponding 
element on Stela 15. There are 23-+23-+23=69 glyph-blocks in this text, 
the Initial Series introducing glyphs on the sides occupying the space of 
4 glyph-blocks each, and the one on the back the space of 6 glyph-blocks. 
Stela 7 is just 2 katuns and 10 tuns (approximately 50 years) later than 
Stela 9, and, as would naturally be expected, shows a considerable advance 
in style over the latter. Until the discovery of Stela 18 by Spinden in 1912, 
this monument was thought to be the earliest example of the front presen- 
tation of the human figure extant at Copan. 
STELA E. 
Provenance: Original position uncertain, possibly at Group 9. Found 
lying on the terrace on the west side of the Great Plaza 
just east of Mound 1 at the Main Structure. The 
associated altar (now badly shattered) is at the base 
of this terrace, in front of the stela. (See plate 6.) 
Date: (Stela) 9.9.2.17.0 10 Ahau_ 8 Uo (?) 
(Altar) 9.9.5. 0.0 g Ahau 18 Uo. 
Text, (a) photograph: Spinden, 1913, plate 18, 2 (front only). 
(b) drawing: plate 14. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol 1, plate 49. 
Seler, 1902-1908, vol. 1, p. 773, figure 223. 
References: Goodman, 1897, p. 131. 
Gordon, 1896, pp. 24, 35. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1 of text, p. 48. 
Seler, 1902-1908, vol. I, pp. 773, 774. 
Spinden, 1913, pp. 158, 159, 161. 
Thomas, 1900, p. 778. 
Stela E lies on the terrace at the western side of the Great Plaza in front 
of Mound 1 at the Main Structure. If it is 7m sitw here, it is necessary to 
assume that the terraces surrounding the Great Plaza were built before the 
erection of the Great Plaza itself, that is to say, some time during the Early 
Period. As this question will be fully presented in the discussion of Stela I 
and its altar (pp. 177-183), it will not be anticipated here other than to 
state the writer believes that Stela E and its altar were brought to the posi- 
tions where they are now found, possibly from Group 9, at some time after 
9.12.5.0.0, 7. ¢., during the Middle Period. 
The reasons for assigning Stela E to Group 9 originally are two, first 
because it is obviously not im situ in its present position at the Main Struc- 
