At that time the altar was located at the bottom of the staircase in Structure 16, the central pyramid in Copán's acropolis.

[4] According to David Stuart: The inscription on the top of Altar Q really tells the story about Yax K'uk Mo' and how he came to Copan.

It begins with a reference to a day in the early 400s, when it says that he took the emblems of office at a place that we think is connected somehow to Teotihuacan or with Central Mexico somewhere.

So there's no question in my mind that K'Inich Yax K'uk Mo' became a king at a very far away spot in Central Mexico and brought those emblems of office back here to Copan to found the dynasty.

The Feathered-Serpent Pyramid was burnt, all the sculptures were torn from the temple, and another platform was built to efface the facade ...[6][relevant?