gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology, Pre-Columbian jade; Costa Rica; Maya; exchange; iconography, lapidary

This paper explores the possibility that a partially preserved glyph on the San Bartolo stone block, recently published by Saturno et al. (2006), might represent a Late Preclassic Distance Number (DN). The block in question is designated “pA4” (Figures 1 and 2) and is part of a longer text of at least ten glyph blocks in length. The possible identification as a Distance Number is made on the basis of what might be a numerical coefficient to the left of the block, as well as a few other suggestive features of glyphic morphology and syntax, to be discussed below. To contextualize pA4 for the purpose of this analysis, I refer the reader to Wayeb Notes 42 (Girón-Ábrego 2012). In that paper, I argued that glyphs pA1–pA3 represented a period-ending clause (PE), drawing particular attention to the early TZUTZ logogram (at pA2) and its similarity to a PE notation on the Dumbarton Oaks Jade Celt (Figures 3 and 4). Schele and Miller (1986:82–83) noted that the latter recorded a PE celebration, albeit with unusual glyphs and an uncommon structural form. They tentatively identified the date as 8.4.0.0.0, or July 15, AD 150. Given the pronounced similarities between these two texts, I argued that the San Bartolo block represents a similar “unusual” form of recording period endings and suggested that this may simply have been the standard practice during the Late Preclassic period.