What is copal
Copal is a plant resin, exuded by trees of several families, that has been used for millennia as incense, varnish and ritual material. It is not exactly amber, although it is sometimes confused with it; its hardening process can remain halfway between fresh resin and fossil, and that marks its cultural and scientific value.
Origin and formation of copal
Resin oozes as the tree’s defense against wounds, insects or fungi; it then air-dries and changes texture. In tropical and subtropical climates, copal can partially fossilize, lose volatiles and harden, but it rarely reaches the deep crystallization of amber, which takes millions of years to form.
Botany and varieties
In Mexico copal commonly comes from species of the genus Bursera, known as copales or copalillos, although there are also species of Protium and other resin-producing families. Each species contributes distinct scent, color and hardness—characteristics that artisans and healers have learned to distinguish over time.
Difference between copal and amber
The main difference lies in age and degree of polymerization: copal is younger, from decades to hundreds of years, while amber is fossilized and millions of years old. Copal tends to be stickier when heated and releases volatile aromas; amber is hard, less volatile, and can contain well-preserved inclusions.
Copal and preservation of remains
Although copal can trap insects and plant fragments, its ability to preserve organisms at a fossil scale is limited compared to amber. In paleontological research amber is preferred to study ancient microfauna; however, copal offers a window into more recent ecosystems and into human interactions with resins.
We have addressed related topics in texts about fossils, remains that reveal the past and about what paleontology studies, where we explain how different natural materials help reconstruct ancient ecosystems.
Cultural and ritual uses
In Mesoamerica copal is associated with the sacred; it has been used in ceremonies, offerings and purification processes. Its smoke cleanses spaces and links the community to the divine—a practice that continues in contemporary festivities. In artistic and museum contexts, copal appears both in decorative objects and in ritual paintings.
The local tradition connects with other practices of Tultepec; we have written about traditions of Tultepec where offerings, festivities and popular manifestations intertwine, and about pyrotechnics as craft and art in pyrotechnics, an art in constant evolution.
Copal in material history
Archaeologists find traces of copal in ceremonial contexts, vessels and temples; its presence documents trade networks and beliefs. Unlike metals or ceramics, resin does not always survive intact, so each finding provides clues about techniques of use and olfactory preferences of ancient communities.
To understand how materials are dated and placed in time, it is useful to review our notes on dating fossils; the methodology shares principles with dating organic materials when the proper context is available.
Physical and chemical properties
Copal is composed of organic molecules, mainly terpenes and resin acids, which change its texture and scent as they oxidize and polymerize. When heated it releases aromatic oils, which is why it is carved and burned as solid resin, producing plumes of smoke considered purifying in rituals.
Identification and authenticity
Traders distinguish recent copal from amber using simple tests, such as solubility in solvents, reaction to heat, or hardness tests. In museums and laboratories spectroscopic techniques are used to identify compounds and establish relative age—care needed to avoid confusing valuable pieces with imitations.
Conservation and responsible trade
Copal is a renewable resource when extraction is responsible, but indiscriminate logging and overexploitation of resin-producing trees threaten local ecosystems. Legal trade and community management promote conservation, protect biodiversity and sustain rural economies based on traditional knowledge.
Modern applications of copal
Beyond incense, copal is used in traditional varnishes, perfumery and as a raw material in crafts. Current research explores its potential uses in biomedicine and in the restoration of historic materials, thanks to its chemical composition and adhesive properties.
Relationship with megafauna and the fossil record
Although copal does not preserve mammoths, the study of resins and their inclusions helps us understand environmental changes that affected ancient species. At the Museum of the Mammoth we are interested in that connection between plant and animal remains, which is why we link copal to research on megafauna and extinction.
We have written about megafauna and mammoths in texts like the mammoth, giants of prehistory and about how mammoths lived in landscapes that also produced resins and other organic materials.
Copal in the museum context
In exhibitions, copal functions as both object and experience; its aroma introduces the visitor to sensory narratives about rituals and ecology. In Tultepec the link between material culture and public spectacles is evident; by integrating copal into displays we build bridges between natural history and living practices.
Education and outreach
Explaining what copal is requires combining science and tradition, showing its formation, uses and risks. At the Museum of the Mammoth we strive to convey these stories rigorously and attractively, crossing knowledges so the public understands the cultural and scientific value of a resin that still pulses in the present.
We have already addressed methods of visual recording and historical memory in posts about rock paintings, evidence of the past and about digital museums in digital museums of Mexico.
Final reflection on copal
Copal is a bridge between botany, history and spirituality—a material that contains recent time and cultural memory. Its study requires dialogue among archaeologists, biologists and communities, and its care demands policies that respect biodiversity and the intangible heritage that accompanies its use. In Tultepec and beyond, copal continues to kindle ties between past and present.
