‘Aztlan’ refers to the mythical origin or homeland of the Aztecs which were part of either the Mexica or Nahua tribes.  Based on various writings, the term “Aztlan” supposedly means “place of whites” or “herons.”  Based on legends, various tribes of the Nahua group were said to live in various caves in the area called Chicomoztoc. These tribes, including those of the Mexica group, were said to have similar languages, and so they were all considered as part of one big Nahua tribe. They all then left the caves to settle in a place called “Aztlan,” and from then on these people were referred to as Aztecs.

Most expert scientists and archaeologists believe that Aztlan is a mythical place and that most writings and evidence found regarding the Aztec civilization point to this supposed homeland as more of a myth rather than based on facts.  Despite its mythical classification, though, some experts still pursued the possibility of Aztlan being a factual home of the former Aztecs or people from the Nahua tribe.  Back in the mid-1500s, various attempts and expeditions were made to determine the exact location of the mythical place called Aztlan.  By then, no exact location was determined on where Aztlan was, but there were sightings of islands and other locations that fit the description of the mythical place in various legends and writings.  Several decades afterwards, a man named Alfredo Chavero had declared that Aztlan resides at the point where the state of Nayarit in the Pacific is located.  Other experts also pointed out that Aztlan could be located near the areas of Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Michoacán.

The search for Aztlan is very important especially for Mexican experts because it represents the supposed homeland of the people that previously inhabited various parts of Mexico before the Columbus era.  Aztlan is also commonly used in Mexico in the form of symbols for national unity or spirituality.