INSCRIPTIONS OF THE MIDDLE PERIOD. 213 
A glance at the preceding table at once discloses a very different state of 
affairs from that found in connection with the stele of the Early Period. In 
the case of the latter all the Initial Series which can be surely deciphered 
and probably even all those that can only be approximately determined, 
with the exception of Stela E, were found to record hotun-endings. In ne 
above table, on the contrary, where all the dates given save one are certain, 
five of them, or nearly half, do not record hotun-endings or even tun-eadings. 
Here then are a number of apparent exceptions to the second generalization 
which was made in connection with the stele of the Early Period, namely 
that all the stele of that period record hotun-endings. That Fee en 
tions, however, among the Middle Period stele, are apparent rather than 
real, and are due to the presence of Secondary Series which bring their 
respective Initial Series forward to hotun-endings, has already been explained 
but it appears advisable to review these cases in the present connection. 
We have seen that not all of the foregoing Initial Series indicate the 
contemporaneous dates of the monuments upon which they are severally 
inscribed. In fact, only four of the above twelve stele, Nos. 13, 3,? 6, and J 
have their contemporaneous dates expressed by their Initial Series. In he 
other eight cases, the Initial Series record earlier dates, which are brought 
forward by Secondary Series either on the stele themselves or on the asso- 
ciated altars, to their contemporaneous dates, which in every case but one 
or two (Stela 10 and possibly Stela 5), are also hotun-endings. 
Taking up the first group of these apparent exceptions, 7. ¢., those where 
the hotun-ending is recorded somewhere on the stela itself, it will be remem- 
bered that even although the Initial Series of Stele 12 and 2 are themselves 
hotun-endings, viz, 9.10.15.0.0, neither may probably be assigned to this 
period, but that, on the contrary, both probably date from the following 
hotun, 9.11.0.0.0, which is recorded as a Period Ending date on each. 
Stela 23 presents a similar case. Even although it is impossible to 
decipher the Initial Series other than as occurring somewhere in Katun 10, 
the current date of the monument, a hotun-ending is recorded as a Period 
Ending date elsewhere in the text. 
Another slightly different condition is that represented by Stela 1 and 
probably by Stela 5. Although the Initial Series of Stela 1 is not itself the 
hotun-ending this monument was erected to commemorate, there is present 
in the text a Secondary Series leading from the Initial Series terminal date 
to that hotun-ending. This was also probably the case with Stela 5, although 
the destruction of the last three glyph-blocks prevents. the reading of the 
final calculations. 
Still a third condition is that presented by Stela I and probably by Stelz 
19 and ro and their associated altars. Although the Initial Series on Stela I 
1 The reading of Stela 5 the writer regards as practically certain, in spite of the fragmentary condition of the 
original.  Stela 23, however, is doubtful, possibly the month coefficient, being 8, might indicate the day was Ahau, 
but with so many terms wanting it is impossible to go farther with its decipherment. 
2Jn the case of Stela 3, where there are two Initial Series, one records the end of Cycle 9, viz, 9.0.0.0.c, and 
the other the current hotun-ending and contemporaneous date, 9.11.0.0.0, 


