A map drafted centuries ago as Spanish settlers solidified their presence in what is now Mexico and the southwestern United States has been returned to the Mexican government, marking the end of a yearslong effort to bring the historic document home.
FBI agents and Mexican officials were joined by historians and archivists at the consulate in Albuquerque for a celebratory handoff of the map.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Justin Garris said it was more than simply ink on paper and Mexican officials described it as a significant part of their history and cultural heritage.
“This document not only enriches our collective memory but also strengthens the ties that unite Mexico and New Mexico through a shared history,” said Patricia Pinzón, Consul of Mexico in Albuquerque.
She mentioned the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro as one of those links. 2,560-km route once served as a lifeline between Mexico City and Santa Fe and is depicted as a central feature that snakes through the map.
The names of communities are artfully scripted along the route as other lines radiating from the route mark rivers.
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