The FBI has returned a 500-year-old manuscript page signed by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés to the Mexican government. This document, which dates back to February 20, 1527, details a payment structure established by Cortés for expenses related to the exploration of new territories.

FBI Special Agent Jessica Dittmer, a member of the bureau's art crime team, described the manuscript as significant. "This is an original manuscript page that was actually signed by Hernán Cortés," she said. "It outlines the payment of pesos of common gold for expenses in preparation for discovery of the spice lands, so it really gives a lot of flavor as to the planning and preparation for unchartered territory back then."

Cortés is known for his conquest of the Aztec Empire, which laid the groundwork for the colonial territory known as New Spain. This territory included parts of modern-day Mexico, Central America, and the southern United States. The manuscript provides a detailed account of Cortés's journey from Europe to the Americas, making it a valuable piece of cultural heritage.

Dittmer emphasized the importance of such documents, stating, "Pieces like this are considered protected cultural property and represent valuable moments in Mexico's history, so this is something that the Mexicans have in their archives for the purpose of understanding history better."

The manuscript was initially repatriated to Mexico but was later discovered to be missing 15 pages in 1993. The FBI indicated that the missing page was likely stolen between 1985 and 1993. In 2024, the Mexican government sought the FBI's help in recovering this specific page. After collaboration with authorities in Atlanta and New York, the page was located and seized from an undisclosed location in the U.S.

Federal officials returned the document to Mexico on Wednesday. However, no criminal charges will be filed in connection with the theft, as investigators found that the document had "changed hands several times over" since it went missing.

Veh Bezdikian, a supervisory special agent with the FBI, noted the importance of international cooperation in recovering cultural artifacts. "We know how important it is for the United States to stay ahead of this, to support our foreign partners, and to try and make an impact as it relates to the trafficking of these artistic works and antiquities," he said.

This is not the first time the FBI has returned a document signed by Cortés to Mexico. In July 2023, a letter from Cortés authorizing the purchase of sugar was also repatriated. The search for other missing pages from the same collection continues, and the FBI is encouraging anyone with information to come forward.