136 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
The former explanation involves an entirely new feature in Maya 
notation, namely, that under certain conditions a bar-and-dot numeral could 
be combined with a head-variant numeral, making a composite numeral. 
The cases where such combinations occur have been exhaustively presented 
under the East Altar of Stela 5 (see pp. 166-170) and their discussion will not 
be anticipated here. Suffice it to say in the present connection that A4a, 
explained on either basis, stands for the number 15; and further that, all 
things considered, it is perfectly safe to accept 9.10.15.0.0 6 Ahau 13 Mac as 
the Initial Series of Stela 12. Before attempting to decide whether or not 
this was the contemporaneous date of the monument, however, let us con- 
tinue the inspection of the text. 
On one of the narrow faces at c10, p11 (plate 17, four glyphs at bottom) 
is the following Period Ending date: “12 Ahau 8 Ceh, End of Katun 11”: 
cro 12 Ahau 
DIO 8 Ceh 
Cll End of 
DII Katun I1 
Although the line of fracture passes through c10, p11, this reading is 
perfectly clear. We have, then, on Stela 12, the record of two successive 
hotuns in the Long Count, 9.10.15.0.0 and 9.11.0.0.0. Ordinarily, indeed 
in the very great majority of cases, the final date on a monument corresponds 
with the date of its erection or formal dedication, and if this general rule 
applies to Stela 12, it may be referred to the end of Katun 11 without further 
question. Unfortunately there is present another factor tending to com- 
plicate the question and possibly to abrogate the general rule in this con- 
nection. However, since this matter can not be adequately presented until 
the other six monuments, which may record the date 9.11.0.0.0, have been 
described, further discussion of Stela 12 and its date will be deferred until 
later. (See pp. 159-161.) 
STELA 2. 
Provenance: At the southern base of the L-shaped extension on the 
north side of Mound ro of the Acropolis at the Main 
Structure. (See plate 6.) 
Date: g.10.15.0.0 6 Ahau 13 Mac. 
9.11. 0.0.0 12 Ahau 8 Ceh.! 
Text, (a) photograph: plate 18. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1, plate 103, a. 
(b) drawing: plate 18. 
Maudslay bid. plates 101 and 102 (1o1 front only). 
References: Bowditch, 1910 pp. 186, 196. 
Gordon, 1896, insert after plate 1. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902 vol. I of text, p. 66. 
Spinden, 1913, pp. 157-159, 164, and table 1. 
Stephens 1841, vol. 1, p. 134. 
Stela 2 is lying at the southern base of the L-shaped extension of 
Mound to in a small court into which the passageway between Mounds 9 
and 10 emerges. It is 3.81 meters long, 81 cm. wide, and 56 cm. thick. A 



1For other monuments recording this same hotun-ending, see Appendix VIII. 
