The pottery cylinder shown in plates 26, 27, and 28 is 10-1/2 inches high by 4 inches in diameter and is without a bottom. It is most exquisitely decorated in light and dark red and dark yellow on a light yellow background, and is also divided into three decorative zones. The uppermost zone contains only a single row of hieroglyphs, very much defaced, among which may still be recognized several of the Maya day signs. The middle zone, by far the broadest, is covered by a most intricate design, containing human and mythological figures and hieroglyphs, with ornamental plumes, plats, and pendants; the whole, owing to the partial obliteration of the design, being extremely difficult to make out. On one side is seen a highly conventional representation of what is undoubtedly intended for the feathered serpent, with tail bent around to join the upper part of the head. The feathered serpent appears to permeate all Maya art in this section of the Maya area; whether painted on pottery or stucco, or incised on bone, pottery, or other material, one encounters him at every step. The serpent rests upon a row of glyphs, very much defaced, and below this is a mass of bows, knots, plumes, and glyphs. Farther along is a fierce-faced human figure, probably a warrior, with lofty and elaborate headdress, ornamented with many long feather plumes. Between the warrior and the serpent is a row of eight cartouches, superimposed one upon the other, each containing glyphs, a good deal defaced, among which the "Ahau" sign may still be clearly made out. The opening glyph in this panel may refer to the katun 8 Ahau. This katun can end in 8 Ahau only once in 260 years, or twice in the ninth cycle, namely, on 9.0.0.0.0.8 Ahau, 3 Ceh, and on 9.13.0.0.0.8 Ahau, 8 Uo; and it is reasonable to suppose that if this is a calendar record it refers to some date in the ninth cycle. Naranjo, the nearest ancient Maya city to Yalloch, was occupied for a period of approximately 12 katuns, or 240 years,[62] between 9.7.10.0.0 and 9.19.10.0.0; if this glyph, therefore, refers to a katun ending in 8 Ahau in the ninth cycle, the date 9.13.0.0.0 is certainly indicated. [Illustration: PLATE 26 POTTERY CYLINDER FROM YALLOCH, GUATEMALA (OTHER VIEWS IN PLATES 27 AND 28)] [Illustration: PLATE 27 POTTERY CYLINDER FROM YALLOCH, GUATEMALA (OTHER VIEWS IN PLATES 26 AND 28)] [Illustration: PLATE 28 POTTERY CYLINDER FROM YALLOCH, GUATEMALA (OTHER VIEWS IN PLATES 26 AND 27)] AUTHORITIES CITED BRINTON, DANIEL G. The Maya chronicles. Brinton's Library Aboriginal American Literature, vol. I. Phila. 1882.