INSCRIPTIONS OF THE GREAT PERIOD. 351 
The second reading in each pair is too late to be historically probable, and 
all of them may be omitted from consideration. ‘This leaves the first read- 
ing in each pair as probably the correct one. A summary of the entire 
inscription follows: 
South side, a2b, a3a and 
A7b, A8a (1)'.11.(18).18. 2. 7.12.0 6 Ahau 18 Kayab 
As, AG TELA LO 
Ag (1) .11.(19). 9.16.12.13.0 6 Ahau 13 Muan 
North side, Bir (1)..11-(19). 9.36.19. 2.00. 15 Ahaui18 Uo 
B2b, B3a (01.10) 40.17.-2-.0.00 085 nau 6 Cumhu 
B7 (1) .11.(19). 9.17.11. 5.0 4 Ahau 18 Uo 
Br4(?) (1) .11.(19). 9.17.12. 0.0 4 Ahau 18 Muan 
Before attempting to decide which of these last five dates designated 
the time Stela C was erected, it is first necessary to present the other three 
monuments of this group (Stele H, F, and 4), all of which are closely related 
to Stela C in style, as well as chronological content. Moreover, the chrono- 
logical sequence of these four monuments can not be established until all 
have been described. It must be remembered in this connection that when 
they were erected Initial Series dating had already begun to disappear at 
Copan, and it was no longer felt necessary to record the contemporaneous 
dates of the monuments by their corresponding Initial Series or even period- 
endings. Indeed, only one of these four monuments, Stela 4, has an Initial 
Series at all, and even this does not indicate its contemporaneous date. 
It will be found as the discussion proceeds that Stele C, H, F, and 4 
treat of the tonalamatl or sacred year of 260 days and that none of them 
were hotun-markers like all the other stele at Copan.? This fact also may 
possibly be connected with the failure to use Initial Series in recording their 
contemporaneous dates. 
Finally, since the chronological data in each case are so incomplete, it 
becomes necessary to rely heavily upon the stylistic sequence of these monu- 
ments in order to determine their proper positions in the Long Count; and 
since this matter can better be presented as a whole, further discussion of the 
date of Stela C will be postponed until after the descriptions of Stele H, F, 
and 4. 
STELA H. 
Provenance: In the Great Plaza at the Main Structure just east of and 
facing Stela A. (See plate 6.) 
Date: g.17.12.0.0 4 Ahau 18 Muan (?). 
Text, (a) photograph: Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1, plates 54, b, 55, 57, 58, 60, 62, a. 
Spinden, 1913, plate 19, 4. 
Catherwood, 1844, plate I. 
(b) drawing: §Maudslay, ibid, plates 56, 59, 61. 
Stephens, 1841, vol. 1, two plates following p. 150. 
References: Galindo, 1834, Appendix XI, p. 598. 
Gordon, 1896, p. 35. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1 of text, pp. 50-52. 
Spinden, 1913, pp. 157-159, 165, and table 1. 
Stephens, 1841, vol. 1, pp. 149, 150. 
Thomas, 1900, p. 778. 
1 The coefiicients of the great-great-great-cycle and the great-cycle glyphs suggested here are those found in 
connection with the corresponding periods on Stela 1o at Tikal. 
2 Stela 8 (pp. 340-343) and Stela 11 (pp. 369, 370) are the only exceptions known and it is even possible that 
the latter may not be an exception. 
