INSCRIPTIONS OF THE MIDDLE PERIOD. 175 
The altar of Stela 1 is about the size of the East and West Altars of 
Stela 5.!_ It now lies broken in two pieces in front (west) of Stela 1 on the 
western side of Mound 9 at the Main Structure. Says Maudslay in describ- 
ing it: “A circular altar with an almost obliterated inscription was lying 
beside the fallen stela (1).’” 
It is indeed very fortunate, therefore, that the only parts of this text 
sufficiently preserved to decipher (see plate 21) should be the beginning and 
end, part of the Initial Series and the closing Period Ending date. 
The inscription is presented on the periphery in a single band of glyphs, 
which, however, does not entirely encircle the stone, as in the case of the 
drum-shaped altars previously described, there being a blank space perhaps 
a meter long at the back. Of the eleven glyph-blocks into which this band 
is divided, two are completely effaced, two others almost so, and three others 
very badly damaged. 
The order of reading within the individual glyph-blocks, at least in the 
case of the second, third, and fourth, B, c, and p respectively, 7. ¢., those 
presenting the Initial Series number, is different from that on the East 
Altar of Stela 5, the only other altar showing the same glyphic presentation. 
There, it will be remembered, the order within the glyph-blocks was from 
top to bottom and left to right, as in the case of Stela 3; here, on the other 
hand, the order is just the reverse, being first from left to right and then 
from top to bottom. 
Bearing this difference in mind, let us proceed with the decipherment of 
the text. a is the Initial Series introducing glyph, and B u. h. the cycle- 
sign and coefficient. The clasped hand on the lower part of the face in Bb 
u. h. clearly indicates the former, and the dot on the lower part of the face 
in Ba u. h. indicates the usual cycle coefficient of 9. 
The katun-sign and coefficient in B |. h. are equally clear, the latter, 
Ba |. h., being 9. (Note the three dots in the double circle on the lower part 
of the cheek.) The next glyph-block, c, unfortunately, is badly weathered, 
though happily both of the coefficients may be distinguished with little 
difficulty. (See plate 21, cau. h. and cal. h.) Both are alike and prob- 
ably record the numeral 10. (Note the fleshless lower jaw and prominent 
upper teeth, both characteristic of the head variant for 10.) Compare these 
two glyphs with the katun coefficient of Stela 12, for example (plate 17, B3a). 
The kin-sign and coefficient in p u. h. are entirely effaced, and the 
day-sign and coefficient in p |. h. practically so; and with the complete 
destruction of the next two glyph-blocks, & and F, and the subsequent loss of 
the month of the Initial Series terminal date, the last means of dating this 
Initial Series to the exact day are gone. However, even in spite of the loss 
of the kin coefficient, the other coefficients are sufficiently clear to date it 


1 Unfortunately the dimensions of this altar were not secured. The drawing in plate 21 shows that it is 36 
cm. high, and the diameter is doubtless between 1.5 and 2 meters. 
2 Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1 of text, p. 66. 
