Códice mesoamericano

Codices were the books of ancient Mesoamerica: long strips of amate bark paper or deerskin, folded like an accordion and painted with glyphs and images recording history, religion, calendars, and tribute. Specialized scribes, called tlacuilos in Nahuatl, produced them.

Most pre-Hispanic codices were destroyed after the conquest, so the few survivors, along with colonial-era works like the Codex Mendoza, are priceless sources on Indigenous life.