Autenticación y datación de la documentación indiana: importancia de la localización de escribanos en el "Legajo Chimaltecuhtli-Casco"

Abstract

This paper presents the importance of the use of a scientific methodology for the external analysis of the documentation before the study of the content. This methodology is defined by the use of a multidisciplinary perspective in which different sciences as the Codicology, the Paleography and the Diplomat are used. This methodology not only is useful for juridical documents, but also for others as the Mesoamerican codices. Although some aspects like the diplomatic analysis cannot be applied for certain codices, for others it is vital to use it. To show the results that can be obtained of the use of this methodology, the study of the hands that appear in the Legajo Chimaltecuhtli-Casco and in the location of three of the notaries in other external documents is carried out. This documentary corpus is particular as it was found by Internet and now it is in a private collection. That’s why its authentication was vital. For this aim, the use of the methodology proposed and especially the analysis and the location of the notaries had an out-standing role.