Stela X is located in the Great Plaza between Temples I and II. Bas-relief pictorials cover the face of the stone tablet. This particular stela depicts Ruler Curl Head who ruled the city circa A.D. 528. It is one of more than a hundred stelae that are scattered around Tikal. Most of the stelae were accompanied by round stone altars (see Altar V, below), and many depicted events of the time and/or paid tribute to specific rulers. Some of the stelae were covered only on one side, while others were completely detailed on all faces of the monument. The fine detail of the work has special meaning, and research continues to decipher their intricate pictures. These pictographs have been essential in helping researchers understand the ancient Maya.