208 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
farther than to point out that this stela probably dates either from 
9.13.15.0.0 or from 9.14.0.0.0. 
Neither of the altars now associated with Stela 5 were originally corre- 
lated with it, as we have already seen, and, indeed, if either of the above 
dates is correct, an altar with glyphs would hardly be necessary, since the 
stela itself probably recorded the hotun-ending it was erected to commem- 
orate. Some sort of an altar doubtless was originally associated with it, but 
not necessarily one with an inscription. A summary of the text follows: 
AI-A4, A8 u. h. ol NW esa 6 Men 18 Kayab 
Bib, B2a tb backward 
B6d |. h., B7a u. h. 14s. 17810 10 Ahau 3 Pax 
Bo u. h. 9.14. 0. 0. O 6 Ahau 13 Muan?r? 
B8a I. h. End of Katun 14??? 
While this interpretation is not as satisfactory as could be desired, it is 
probably correct, for even if the suggested readings for Bs I. h. and Bo u. h. 
be rejected, the certain identification of the katun coefficient as 13 and of 
the tun coefficient as above 10, dates Stela 5 within Io years of its true 
position in Maya chronology, 7. ¢., between 9.13.10.0.0 and 9.14.0.0.0. 
One other point remains to be considered in connection with Stela 5. 
It will be remembered that Altar X was recovered from the foundations 
of this stela (p. 63). Below Altar X, however, a still more archaic 
sculpture was found, a crudely fashioned human figure, the lower legs and 
forearms of which are drawn tightly against the body, so that no part of it 
protrudes from the block, the whole effect being very clumsy and primitive. 
The figure is headless, and there are no glyphs inscribed on it. An almost 
identical figure was found under Altar Y, which had been similarly reused 
in the foundations of Stela 4 during the Great Period at the Great Plaza 
(p. 356). These two archaic monuments (see figure 67, a and J, respec- 
tively), representing, although crudely, the human figure in the round, 
Spinden believes to be the earliest attempts at sculpture in stone now 
extant at Copan, and with the possible exception of Stela 20, this appears 
as not improbable. He has placed the following description of them at the 
writer’s disposal: 
“Under Altars X and Y were found two crudely sculptured figures of a still 
earlier artistic type, unfortunately headless and battered. Although undatable, 
since they are devoid of inscriptions, these two sculptures may safely be termed 
the earliest examples of art in stone so far found at Copan. They appear to be relics 
of the low, widespread culture that preceded the Maya civilization, and they can be 
matched clesele by archaic figures in stone from El Salvador and the highlands of 
Guatemala. 
“The sculpture under Stela 5 is the simpler of the two, and it is possible to 
make out the arms and legs of a squatting figure carved in low relief on a heavy 
boulder. The sculpture under Stela 4 is somewhat more elaborate, since the heavy 
torso is adorned with feathers. No careful study was made of this stone, which 1s 
broken in two pieces (not to mention the missing head) and measures slightly under 
a meter in height. A hasty field sketch shows the arms bent with the hands resting 
