The Glyphic Corpus from Ek’ Balam, Yucatán, México

Epigraphic Comments

Dates from Ek’ Balam

The texts known so far offer 22 calendric references. These references are as follows:

From the above 22 calendric references, 4 are Long Count notations, 2 are Short Count notations, 4 are Calendar Rounds combined with the Short Count, and 12 correspond to the Calendar Round. To these dates could be added the sequence of 9 consecutive Calendar Rounds present where the text ends in Mural 22. I have excluded them from this initial list offered for not being historical; in any case, they will be discussed in the appropriate time and place.

I shall begin with the monuments that exhibit clear calendric notations, and with those that pose no reconstruction problems. They shall be presented in chronological order:

Mural Painting from Room 22

This glyphic mural presents a total of 11 Calendar Rounds in the positions A2-B2, E2-F2, A3-B3, C3-D3, E3-F3, G3-H3, I3-J3, K3-L3, M3-N3, O3-P3, Q3-R3. The two first Calendar Rounds in A2-B2 and E2-F2 are historical, associated with events described in the text. The remaining nine constitute a sequence of dates not associated with real historical events.

The first Calendar Round in A2-B2 poses no reading problems: XIII-HIX VII-UN-wa, 13 Hix 7 Un[ii]w or 13 Hix 7 K’ank’in. The second Calendar Round in E2-F2 is incomplete, [#]-LAMAT I-WAY-HAB’, while the Tz’olk’in coefficient is missing. However, and considering the first occurrence of ? Lamat 1 Wayab’, after 13 Hix 7 K’ank’in, the result appears to be [3] Lamat 1 Wayeb’, a date 4.14 (ninety-four days) away from the previous one.

On the other hand, at the end of the text, the mural painting offers a sequence of Calendar Rounds in an uneven state of preservation, whose transliteration is as follows:

The dates from this text show an interesting pattern: the numerals preserved in the haab’ are always I "one"; the months, which may be reconstructed with the signs preserved, are in a sequence that begins with Paax (B3), [K’ana]si[iy] (D3), [O’h]l (F3), [K’anjala’]b’ (H3), [Ik’]at (J3), Chakat (L3), [Suutz’] (N3) and Ka[se’]w (P3). Wayab’ –Wayeb’–, which should be placed between O’hl and K’anjala’b’, has been, however, left out of the list. This indicates that between one haab’ date and another, 1.0 (one winal, or twenty days) have always elapsed, with the exception of O’hl and K’anjala’b’, where the time elapsed is equivalent to 1.5 (twenty-five days). These distances allow to confirm the tzolk’in coefficients preserved, and to reconstruct the remaining ones. With this information, we are in a position to rebuild the complete sequence of Calendar Rounds, and to offer the transcription:

and we are also able to translate it, by convention, into Yucatecan dates, to operate with them:

This sequence of Calendar Rounds is connected to the previous Calendar Rounds in 13 Hix 7 K’ank’in in A2-B2, and in 3 Lamat 1 Wayeb’ in E2-F2: precisely, it is 3 Lamat 1 Wayeb’ the Calendar Round that should be in place between 9 Lamat 1 Kumk’u in E3-F3 (at a distance of 1.0) and 8 B’en 1 Pop in G3-H3 (at a distance of 0.5).

The possible location for the sequence of Calendar Rounds in the Long Count are as follows:

The text in the mural painting from Room 22, in E1-F1, bears an expression, XIV-tu-[TUN]-[ni] K’AY-[li], 14 tuun k’aay[i]l or 14 tuun k’a’y[i]l  "the announcement of the 14 tuun" (vid. supra), which is found between the Calendar Rounds of 13 Hix 7 K’ank’in and 3 Lamat 1 Wayeb’. This interesting expression is the key to situate the Calendar Rounds of the text in the Long Count. We may see that of the three possible locations in the Long Count considered, only the central one makes sense at the light of the expression "the announcement of the 14 tuun". In fact, the sequence of Calendar Rounds at the end of the text is precisely where the relation of winals corresponding to the 14 tuun of the 17 k’atun begins.

With the support of this evidence, my suggested location for the Calendar Rounds in the Long Count, in the mural painting from Room 22 remains as follows:

Column 1

It presents a Long Count expressed in an Initial Series and followed by a Lunar Series. Clearly, the Initial Series is 10.0.0.0.0  7 Ajaw 18 Sip (March 11, A.D. 830).

The Baktun numeral (B1) is not written in the usual way; from the coefficients of the remaining orders and the associated Calendar Round, we know it should be consistent with 10. In fact, instead of the numeral 10, PAT-JOL? has been written, perhaps in relation with "the formation" –pat "to be made, to be formed"–of the B’aktun. Interestingly, this expression using the root pat as the basis for referring to 10 in the context of an Initial Series is also documented in the Dresden Codex. Thus, the date in Column 1 is

Cover of Vault 10  (Capstone 10)

Found in association with Room 38 in the Acropolis, it poses no dating problems. The text is expressing a Calendar Round, 5 Imix 14 Kumk’u, associated with a Short Count expressed as WAL-la II-TUN-ni ta V-AJAW, "(in the) time of the 2 tun in 5 Ajaw". The Long Count I suggest for the text is as follows:

Stela 1

Three calendric references are included in Stela 1, with two Long Counts and one Short Count.

The first date, an Initial Series, is found at the back of the monument and represents a complete Initial Series, with a Supplementary Series and a Lunar Series. The Initial Series is almost complete: the numeral 10 of the Baktun is clear (A2), as also the numeral 0 in the k’atun (B2), winal (B3) and k’in (A4) notations; the tun presents at least the remains of a bar (A3), in a way that it may stand for the coefficients 5, 10, or 15; the tzolk’in is missing (B4), but the numeral 8 of the haab’ has been clearly preserved, as also the contour of the signs that were a part of it (B9). Among the possible solutions, 10.0.[10].0.0. [6 Ajaw] 8 [Pop] (January 18, A.D. 840) is the one that complies with the requisitions. The countour of the signs that integrated the Haab adequately correspond to the month Pop (k’anjala’b’/k’anjalaw in the Classic Period), and have been written in Stela 1 from Ek’ Balam, possibly, as is customary for this month, with a K’AN sign infixed in a presumed logogram JAL,–only the contour of the latter one has been preserved,–and a suffix sign b’u, the contour of which has also been preserved. The pattern for the month Pop is a feline head which could well correspond to the lines preserved in the Introductory Glyph of the Initial Series (AB1). The Initial Series is followed by a Supplementary Series, with the expression of glyphs G and F in a same block (A5), and a Lunar Series, placed as usual between the notation of the tzolk’in (B4) and the haab (B9), with the presence of the following features: 13D (B5), 3C (A6), X (B6), B (A7), 30A (B7); then a reference to a fire ritual is shown in A8-A9,–FIRE•KIB’-li u-K’AK [##]–(vid. Grube 2000), to finally close with the haab’ we have reconstructed as 8 Pop (B9).

The second date from Stela 1, another Initial Series followed by a Supplementary Series and a Lunar Series, was written on the left side. Unfortunately, reconstruction is not possible. It featured expressions of 10 B’aktun, k’atun, tun, winal, k’in, Tzolkin, Glyph G, Glyph F, Glyph D, Glyph C, Glyph X, Glyph B, Glyph A, and Haab.

At the right side, in tablets E2-F2, there is a possible notation of Short Count which could correspond to 10 [tuun] ta 5 Ajaw, thus corroborating the date 10.0.10.0.0 at the back of the stela.

In my opinion, the date preserved at the back of the monument is the dedicatory date of the monument:

Cover of Vault 1  (Capstone 1)

The Tzolk’in at the right is missing, but the remaining calendric notation, 13 Keh, in association with the Short Count of 12 tun 5 Ajaw, is present. The Long Count corresponding to this information is:

Location in the Long Count of the Remaining Calendar Rounds

Unlike the dates I have just mentioned, the dates to be discussed next have the peculiarity of lacking internal help from the dating system, to become unequivocally associated with a Long Count. The examples to be discussed would require other indirect evidences.

We can obtain a certain amount of help to place with some accuracy the Calendar Round expressions in the Long Count. The first of these tools is of a textual nature: the texts refer to historic characters from the kingdom that may be placed in time by means of the monuments that posed no dating problems and which also make reference to them. The second help comes from archaeology: most texts with Calendar Rounds are cover of vaults that make reference to the dedication of the rooms they contain. The same relative building sequence may give us an indication of the relative temporal sequence between the different monuments, in the pursuit of finding a solution that respects both sources of information.

Together with the previous arguments, a different key to properly determine the dates from the Calendar Rounds in the covers of vaults is Column 1. This monument records an unequivocal date, the Long Count of 10.0.0.0.0  7 Ajaw 18 Sip (March 11, A.D. 830) (vid. supra). It was then when the monument was dedicated and identified as Ukit Kan Le’k’s sak ahk b’aal tuun. Column 1 represents a scene where an individual denominated Ukit Jol Ahkul, sacred king of Talol, convokes a second individual, Ukit Kan Le’k. Therefore, by 10.0.0.0.0, Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’ had already passed away, while king Ukit Jol Ahkul was ruling. Considering the date of 10.0.0.0.0 as the deadline for Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’s life span, the dates that refer to him–leaving aside those present in a context of posthumous reference–should be established sometime prior to 10.0.0.0.0. On the other hand, the location of the Glyphic Mural of Room 22 centered on the dates 9.17.12.16.14 and 9.17.13.3.8, defines a contemporary period of time for Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’s ruling.

Considering these indirect evidences, the following Calendar Rounds from the remaining covers of vaults are associated with the following Long Count dates:

Cover of Vault 14  (Capstone 14)

The Calendar Round is expressed as 13 Kab’an ti’ haab’ ³² Sek, which would correspond to 13 Kab’an 0 Xul. Given that the date refers to the dedication of a structure for Ukit Kan Le’k, this date would have but one unique possibility of being placed in the Long Count prior to 10.0.0.0.0, as follows:

This date is contemporary to those of the mural painting in Room 22.

Cover of Vault 6  (Capstone 6)

The Calendar Round in the text is 2 Men 8 Sip. Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’ is mentioned in the text, whereas there is only one unique possibility to place him in the Long Count before 10.0.0.0.0, as follows:

This date is also contemporary to the dates mentioned in the text of the Glyphic Mural in Room 22.

Cover of Vault 7  (Capstone 7)

In turn, Cover of Vault 7 features the Calendar Round of 13 Kawak 12 Yaxk’in, this time with two possible places in the Long Count prior to 10.0.0.0.0:

Taking into account that CV7 appeared in association with Room 33, I’m inclined to favor the earlier date from the two above, considering that Room 33 is under Room 36,–thus corresponding to a previous constructive phase,–where CV6 was found, with a probable date of 9.17.12.5.15 (vid. supra). The probable date would then be:

Cover of Vault 18  (Capstone 18)

Cover of Vault 18, which also mentions Ukit Kanle’k Tok’, was found in association with Room 62. The date on CV18 shows a Calendar Round associated to a Short Count of which only the reference to the ongoing tun, number 4, has been preserved. The Calendar Round is problematic because the coefficient of the Tzolk’in may stand either for 11 or 12 (the central point being thicker than the two laterals). Besides, it features the peculiarity of having an unusual shape in the haab’, which has been written as YAX-WINIK-ki, Yax winik "month of Yax", while the usual way to write it is YAX-SIHOM-(ma) Yax Siho’m. Considering that winik is one of the alternative forms for "month" documented in Classic times, perhaps Yax is reflecting the vernacular Yucatecan form (vid. infra "Linguistic Comments"). In any case, we consider the month as a representation of the month Yax. The Haab’s numeral is probably 9, as there is enough space for one more point in the lower portion at the left of the bar expressing five. If we try to find which dates combine a numeral 11, 12, or 13 in the Tzolk’in, with a 9 Yax in the haab of a 4 tun, while complying with the requisition of being prior to 10.0.0.0.0, as Ukit Kan Le’k is mentioned in the text, one possibility comes forth, which is the one suggested for this text:

Cover of Vault 19  (Capstone 19)

The date on this Cover of Vault poses problems as a consequence of the heavy erosion in some portions of its surface. The date in A1-A2, includes a Calendar Round combined with a Short Count in A3-A4. The numeral of the Tzolk’in in the Calendar Round could be 7, 8, or 9; the name of the day poses problems for a clear identification: the haab’ would apparently be 2 or 3 K’ayab’. As to the Short Count, the tun could be 7 or 12; only the k’atun is reconstructible, and it is no doubt a 9 Ajaw. Based on this information, there are different possible solutions, but selecting one of them at this time would not be advisable. While we await for fresh information to elucidate this matter, I shall choose a generic date of Short Count for this Cover of Vault, in a 7 or 12 tun of 9 Ajaw:

Cover of Vault 9  (Capstone 9)

The text preserved in the second pictoral layer of this Cover of Vault shows the remains of a Short Count, where only the reference to the tuun may be identified, without any numeral however, and a 5 Ajaw. The 5 Ajaw k’atun covers the period of time comprised between 10.0.0.0.1 and 10.1.0.0.0. We may further refine the date of this Cover of Vault, by considering its archaeological location in Room 41. Eventually, this room was added a second room at the entrance, Room 38, where Cover of Vault 10 was found, bearing the unequivocal date of 10.0.1.15.1. The date of CV9 may have been, possibly, contemporaneous to that of CV10, in the first or second tuun of 5 Ajaw. We might even think they were created simultaneously, considering that possibly, Room 41 was remodelled with the construction works of Room 38. I therefore suggest the date

Cover of Vault 2  (Capstone 2)

The calendric information in this Cover of Vault was present in Block A1. The coefficient is missing, and the day cannot be accurately reconstructed. The unusual feature of this dating, expressing the Tzolk’in only, points to the fact that it is a date not too separated from that in Cover of Vault 1, found in the same Structure 8-9, the Ballcourt. Probably, each cover of vault was associated to one of the upper rooms. My suggestion is that Cover of Vault 1 indicates the dedicatory date of the room where it was found, while CV2 corresponds to the termination of an adjacent chamber. The fact that CV2 only bears an expression of the Tzolk’in may indicate that the date falls within the twenty days following the dedication of CV1, something reasonable from an archaeological point of view. Therefore, if CV1 bears the date 10.0.11.11.10  11 Ok 13 Keh 12 tun 5 Ajaw (August 30, A.D. 841), CV2 would be referring to a date between 10.0.11.11.10 and 10.0.11.12.10, still within the 12 tun 5 Ajaw (September 1-20, A.D. 841).

Mural A, Room 29-sub (Mural of the 96 Glyphs)

The placing in the Long Count of the dates present in the Mural of the 96 Glyphs is a particularly important issue. This lengthy text includes two Calendar Round dates, 11 Eb’ 10 Sotz’ and 8 Imix 19 Xul, separated by a distance number of 49 days. The dates are uncertain, with two possible positions in the Long Count prior to 10.0.0.0.0:

or either,

The Mural of the 96 Glyphs was found on the northern wall of Room 29-sub. This room, partially explored, is located below rooms 29 and 45 from the upper level. To this latter Room 45, Cover of Vault 14 is associated, featuring a date 9.17.10.7.17  13 Kab’an 0 Xul (May 4, A.D. 781). The building sequence in this section of the Acropolis suggests that Room 45 corresponded to a subsequent architectural stage than that of Room 29-sub. With this information, one may see that the second group of dates considered would postdate the probable date of construction of Room 45, something that is not possible. The archaeological evidence seems to favor, therefore, the first group of dates:

Mural B, Room 29-sub

This glyphic mural was written under the previous mural, at its left side. It is clearly a different text because it is out of the space limited by the red thick line that embraces the Mural of the 96 Glyphs. The calligraphy of the text is also visibly different from the one of the previous text. All of this suggests a second event of execution for this mural, the result of a re-entrance into the substructure where the Mural of the 96 Glyphs was found. Mural 2 only has a single preserved calendric reference, 1 Ajaw 3 Wayeb. Considering that this date must be subsequent to those expressed in the Mural of the 96 Glyphs, the following possibility is suggested:

This date corresponds to the first occurrence of 1 Ajaw 3 Wayeb’ after the last date from the Mural of the 96 Glyphs, 9.16.19.6.1  8 Imix 19 Xul (May 26, A.D. 770), some thirty six years later. Obviously, given the fact that this text is the result of a re-entrance in the substructure (already fully buried under the upper constructive phases), we cannot be one hundred percent sure whether we should consider this date immediately subsequent to the one mentioned before, or any other one taking place one or two Calendar Rounds later (for instance, 10.0.8.4.0, eighty-eight years later, or 10.3.0.17.0, one hundred and forty years later). However, evidence present in Mural C, also associated with the Mural of the 96 Glyphs (vid. infra), advises to consider the Long Count of 9.18.15.9.0  1 Ajaw 3 Wayeb indicated above, as the most probable.

Mural C, Room 29-sub

Mural C was written on the northern wall of Room 29-sub, below the Mural of the 96 Glyphs, at the right of Mural B. Mural C is a text independent from the earlier murals, as is also clearly indicated through its reading format–which in spite of imitating that from the Mural of the 96 Glyphs, differs from the one presented in Mural B–and its calligraphy. Mural C mentions a Calendar Round of 3 Hix 17 Kumk’u. Considering the first occurrence of this Calendar Round after the date 9.18.15.9.0  1 Ajaw 3 Wayeb’ (January 16, A.D. 806) in Mural B, we obtain the Long Count–occurred eight years after the date in Mural B–as follows:

Like in the previous discussion on Mural B, it is uncertain whether this Long Count is correct, or any of the subsequent Long Counts resulting of adding 2.12.13.0, a full Calendar Round, as 10.1.16.5.14, or 10.4.9.0.14. However, internal evidences originated in the text of Mural C, mentioning a character that could be the same mentioned in the Mural of the 96 Glyphs, would point to the suggested Long Count of 9.19.3.10.14 3 Hix 17 Kumk’u (January 8, A.D. 814) like the most probable date, because then, it would have taken place forty-four years after the dates indicated in the Mural of the 96 Glyphs, and would thus make it possible that the character mentioned in both texts was, in fact, one and the same person. All the other solutions would indicate that the date in Mural C occurred ninety-six or one hundred and forty-eight years after that from the Mural of the 96 Glyphs, therefore being highly improbable that the name appearing in both texts could refer to the same person.

Miscellaneous Text 2

Miscellaneous Text 2 which mentions the Calendar Round of 9 Kawak 7 K’ank’in, is the only one text for which I shall not suggest one unique Long Count. Engraved on a shell plate that would be used as a pendant (K’AN-na, k’an, like it is mentioned in the text itself, vid. Vargas et al. 1999), it was recovered from a midden without a clear stratigraphic association. The text is incomplete–it broke when carved and was disposed of–and we lack any other indication that may point to one of the Long Counts or at least eliminate some of them as improbable. The most probable dates in the Long Count–already mentioned in ibid.–are as follows:

Summary of Ek’ Balam Dates in Chronological Order:

We shall now present a relation of the dates suggested, in chronological order. In the column from the right, the main character of the site associated with the texts is mentioned.

Endnotes

31. Key to the Dating System (DS) used: LA = Long Count; SA = Short Count; CW = Calendar Round.

32. The expression TI’-HAB’, ti’ haab’, used to outline the "end" of the month indicated and the beginning of the following one, possibly means "in the edge of time", or "in the limit of time", after ti’  "edge, limit" and haab’, "time".

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