PAPERS OF THE PEABODY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY VOL. VI.—NO. 2 A POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF THE NUMBER SERIES ON PAGES 51 TO 58 OF THE DRESDEN CODEX BY CARL E. GUTHE CAMBRIDGE, MASS. PUBLISHED BY THE MUSEUM 1921 COPYRIGHT, 1921 BY THE PEABODY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY NOTE The solution set forth in this paper formed a part of a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, taken in Anthropology at Harvard University. Thanks are due Dr. A. M. Tozzer of Harvard University, and Mr. S. G. Morley of The Carnegie Institution of Washington, for the interest they have taken in my work and the valuable aid they have given. I must thank especially Professor R. W. Willson of the Astronomical Department of Harvard for the inestimable help and unfailing patience he has contributed to my work. There are many statements throughout this paper which are the direct result of his teachings. I wish also to thank Mr. Charles P. Bowditch, without whose inspiration and aid this work would not have been accomplished. CARL E. GUTHE ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS July, 1919 A POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF THE NUMBER SERIES ON PAGES 51 TO 58 OF THE DRESDEN CODEX DESCRIPTION In the Dresden Codex, one of the three Maya manuscripts in existence, there is found a series of numbers covering eight pages, 51 to 58 (plate I). As early as 1886, Dr. Förstemann recognized this series as an important one, and one which probably referred to the moon in some way. Each page is divided into an upper and a lower half designated, respectively, “a” and “b.” Pages 51a and 52a form a unit in themselves, but are clearly associated with the remaining pages. The probable meaning of this group is still so doubtful that it has been deemed best to omit entirely a discussion of it at the present time. The remaining sections of these pages form one long series of numbers which should be read from left to right, beginning at 53a, reading to 58a, continuing on 51b, and ending the series at 58b.