440 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
controverted by such future discoveries, always admitting that new texts 
will undoubtedly be found from time to time which will introduce minor 
variations. 
The classification of the Old Empire cities into four groups, as given on 
page 441, based upon their size, monumental and architectural remains, and 
varying degrees of importance, is perhaps hazardous, since surveyed maps 
are lacking for all of them save only Tikal, Copan, Palenque, Nakum, and 
Quirigua. It is offered here, however, only by way of suggestion in answer 
to the oft-repeated question, what was the relative importance of the 
different cities of the Old Empire; and it should be noted in using it that save 
for Classes 1 and 4, where the classification is fairly obvious, the assignments 
suggested are only tentative and open to revision any time additional data 
are available. 
The real difficulty in any such a classification is the proper distribution 
of the cities in Classes 2 and 3, or indeed whether it would not be preferable 
to group these cities together in one class. The principal objection to the 
latter solution is that it involves the grouping together of such important 
sites as Yaxchilan and Nakum with such relatively unimportant sites as 
Yaxha and Ixkun. 
The problem is further complicated by the fact that, architecturally 
considered, Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Nakum are very important, while 
their monumental remains, especially those of the first and last, are rela- 
tively insignificant; whereas at Piedras Negras, Naranjo, and Quirigua we have 
the opposite condition, namely, important monumental sequences but rela- 
tively insignificant architectural remains. ‘The only escape from this latter 
dilemma, since we do not know which the ancient Maya esteemed the 
more—a handsome series of stele or an imposing assemblage of temples— 
would appear to be to give each an equal value and group them all together. 
Although this makes Class 2 as large as Class 3, its six cities are more 
nearly of a size, while at the same time the six cities of Class 3 all have about 
the same number of monuments. 
OLDVEMPIRE 
EARLY PERIOD MIDDLE PERIOD GREAT PERIOD 
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Fic. 70.— Diagram showing the chronologic distribution and frequency of all dated monuments in the Old Empire 
