Amber Listserv / Copal in ancient Mesoamerica--new discoveries

[kirk stephan]

    I wonder what that "stain" on the copal was made up of...? I've never heard of blue copal before, has anyone?
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Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:01:41 -0700From: spiegela at prodigy.netTo: amber at ambericawest.comSubject: Amber Listserv / Copal in ancient Mesoamerica--new discoveries
Hi folks,
 
Was reading my archaeology magazines and there have been some recent discoveries involving copal.
 
Recent excavations in the area of the Templo Mayor, or major temple of the Aztecs, which is in the center of Mexico City, yielded an offering which included many copal "bars".
 
Also, the Maya had a blue color which is called, appropriately enough, "Mayan blue".  This pigment was lasted for hundreds of years intact on pottery, etc.  Until now they didnt know what it was made from.  Research indicates that copal was used in the process to create the color.  A bowl full of copal was found in the Sacred Cenote of Chichen Itza as an offering to Chac, the Rain God.  Chac's colors were green and blue, as in water and sky and crops.  The offering bowl was filled with ancient copal stained blue.
 
I have never been offered genuine pre-Columbian amber relics while in Mexico, although I keep hoping!  I have heard stories that some pre-Columbian amber beads were found years ago in the Simojovel area, but I dont know much more.  
 
I did recently acquire 3 ancient amber beads from the Baltic region, however.  Two are beads and 1 is in the form of a tiny axe, which had ritual significance to the peoples of that region.  Probably date from the Germanic Period, 1st through 6th Century CE. 
 
Adam
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