Rebirth of an Aztec Codex

There are some stories from Mesoamerican history that, when you first hear them, sound almost too good to be true. Take for example, the Tonalamatl Aubin. Now, for those not familiar, the story goes like this: a sacred Indigenous calendar survives the destruction of the Spanish invasion, vanishes into European collections where it gets passed from collector to collector, and eventually ends up sitting in a French library thousands of miles from where it was made. Then, in 1982, a Mexican reporter walks into that library, presents fake credentials in order to examine the manuscript, and then promptly puts it in a briefcase and walks out with it, sparking an international incident.

That would already make the Tonalamatl Aubin one hell of a story. I mean, Why hasn’t a movie been made about this incident? Someone, anyone, give me a budget and let’s fucking go.

Well dear listeners, somehow the story of the Tonalamatl Aubin just got even more awesome.

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Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at the University of New Mexico, Harvard University, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa

Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.

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