The Aztec and Maya Papermakers Book

Anthropologist Victor Wolfgang von Hagen published The Aztec and Maya Papermakers back in 1943. While some of content is outdated and in need of a modern publication, von Hagen reveals to the reader an important but forgotten history of papermaking in Mesoamerica. The Aztec, Maya, and other cultures of Mesoamerica developed the art of making paper independently of the Old World. Paper held tremendous importance for the pre-Columbian Aztec and Maya. In Mesoamerica, paper was created by using the bark fibers of trees such as the Mulberry. They created their own techniques for papermaking including pigments, glues, and dyes. The story of papermaking and its significance to Mesoamericans is a must read for anyone interested in the ancient cultures of Mexico.