According to Brasseur de Bourbourg "Zilan, situated at about 20-½ leagues from Merida belonged to the Cheles people.(59) It is the seaport of Izamal and contains the ruins of one of the greatest pyramids or artificial mounds (omul) in Yucatan," a fact which corroborates the view that it was an ancient important capital. The northern coast of Yucatan is extremely remarkable for it is divided from the Gulf of Mexico by a continuous strip of land between which and the mainland there is a narrow channel of water. There are two openings only in this zone of land which afford a passage into the navigable channel. One of these openings is situated almost opposite to Zilan and is known as the Boca de Zilan. At a short distance to the east there is a second such "boca" opposite to the mouth of the Rio Lagartos, which is a large estuary and the only river on the northern coast of Yucatan.(60)
Let us now transport ourselves, mentally, south of the peninsula to Honduras and, leaving the coast, ascend the Motagua valley to the ruins of Quirigua and Copan,(61) which have impressed Mr. Maudslay as being of great antiquity. Before examining such of these monuments as seem to yield the testimony we are seeking, let us again recall Landa's record that the Mayas erected stelæ as memorials of each 20-year period. To this statement should be added, at full length, Cogolludo's record that "the Mayas employed eras of 20 years and lesser periods of 4 years.(62) The first of these four years was assigned to the east and was named Cuch-haab; the second, Hiix, to the west; the third, Cavac, to the south and the fourth Muluc, to the north, and this served as a 'Dominical letter.' When five of these four-year periods had passed, which form twenty years, they called it a Katun and placed one sculptured stone over another sculptured stone and fixed them with lime and sand [mortar] to the walls of their temples and houses of the priests."(63)
The term katun is closely linked to the said employment of memorial stones, for tun is the Maya for stone and ka seems to stand for kal or kaal=20. The word hun-kaal=20, means literally, "one complete count," or "a count which is closed," since the verb kaal means to close, shut, or fasten something. According to the above a katun literally means "the 20 (year) stone;" but we know that, by extension, it designated the era itself as well as war and battle. Thus we find the verb katun-tal=to fight.