INSCRIPTIONS OF THE GREAT PERIOD. 299 
takably 6 Caban 10 Mol, and following this in a2 is what appears to be a 
variant of the lahuntun-sign. There are no other glyphs on this side of a 
decipherable nature. The eight glyph-blocks on the back are also of unknown 
meaning, with the exception of the last, which is the Venus-sign. 
The only decipherable glyphs on the remaining side are the fourth and 
fifth, j2, K1, which, according to Maudslay’s drawing, unmistakably record 
another Calendar Round date, 7 Ahau 3 Zip. There is no Secondary Series 
anywhere in the text to connect these two dates or an Initial Series to fix 
either to its proper position in the Long Count. 
By referring to Goodman’s tables, it will be found that if 6 Caban to 
Mol is the starting-point, it will be necessary to count forward 1.10.2.3, 
about 30 years, in order to reach 7 Ahau 3 Zip; and if 7 Ahau 3 Zip is the 
starting-point, it will be necessary to count forward 1.2.10.17, about 22 years, 
to reach 6 Caban 10 Mol. The writer believes the latter is the correct inter- 
pretation here, for the following reasons: 
1. The count on Altar V, which 1s similar in every respect (i. ¢., two dates, one, 
6 Caban 10 Mol, and no number connecting them) was forward to and not backward 
from 6 Caban 10 Mol, though in this case the time was much shorter, 7. ¢., 7 years 
against 45 years, as it would have been had the order been reversed. It there- 
fore seems likely, reasoning by analogy, that 7 Ahau 3 Zip is the starting-point here. 
2. The distance from 7 Ahau 3 Zip to 6 Caban 10 Mol is nearly 8 years shorter 
than the reverse, an additional reason for accepting 7 Ahau 3 Zip as the starting- 
point. 
3. Finally, there is no question but that 6 Caban 10 Mol was by far the more 
important date of these two. ‘Therefore, since the overwhelming tendency in the 
Maya inscriptions was to record the most important date last, it is correspond- 
ingly probable that 7 Ahau 3 Zip is the starting-point here. 
But even with this point established, it sheds no light on the proper 
position of either of these two dates in the Long Count. Assuming once 
more (until definite proof has been presented) that the Initial Series of 6 
Caban 10 Mol was 9.16.12.5.17, the Initial Series corresponding to 7 Ahau 
3 Zip can be shown by calculation to have been 9.15.9.13.0, viz: 
9.16.12. 5.17. 6 Caban 10 Mol 
I. 2.10.17 backward 
Gis. 9.14. 0 7 Ahau’3 Zip 
ALTAR. U. 
Provenance: Formerly with Altar T, just west of the large plain 
stela in front (7.¢., west) of the high mound at the 
southeastern corner of Group 9. Removed in 1893 
to the center of the village plaza. (See plate 3 and 
figure 22, c and d). 
Date: 9.16.12.5.17 6 Caban 10 Mol. 
Text, (a) photograph: Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1, plate 97. 
(b) drawing: bid, plate 98. 
References: Bowditch, 1910, pp. 165, 206, 207. 
Goodman, 1897, p. 134. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1 of text, p. 63. 
Spinden, 1913, table 1. 
