Workshop: “Counterfeit, Materiality, and Colonial Governance in New Spain’s Cochineal Trade, 1555–1599” is an in-person academic workshop presented by Diana Heredia-López, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin’s Institute for Historical Studies on Monday, February 9, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM in GAR 4.100 on the UT Austin campus. Drawing on a chapter of her research, the workshop examines the commodification of cochineal — a vibrant red dye that became one of the most valuable colonial exports — and how colonial officials, merchants, and Indigenous traders negotiated its material qualities and authenticity in early global commerce. Through a focus on evolving legislation and the role of specialized colonial judges, the talk highlights how cochineal was regulated and transformed into a global commodity in the sixteenth century. This event provides insights into material culture, colonial governance, and economic history for scholars and students of early modern empires.
