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Copal is a type of resin
Resin

Resin is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly Pinophyta. It is valued for its chemical constituents and uses, such as varnishes and adhesives, as an important source of raw materials for organic synthesis, or for incense and perfume....
 produced from plant or tree secretions
Plant sap

Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. Fluid found in the vacuoles of other cells is sometimes referred to as "cell sap"....
, often taken from members of the genus Copaifera
Copaifera

Copaifera is a genus of plants in the legume family , Fabaceae.The scientific name means "copal-bearer" , since economically important resins and essential oils can be acquired from them....
. The term is particularly identified with the forms of aromatic tree resins used by the cultures of pre-Columbian
Pre-Columbian

The pre-Columbian era incorporates all archaeology of the Americas in the history of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the Americas continents....
 Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica

Mesoamerica or Meso-America is a region and cultural area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua, within which a number of pre-Columbian society flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries....
 as a ceremonially burned incense
Incense

Incense is composed of aromatic Biotic material materials. It releases fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces....
, as well as for a number of other purposes. More generally, the term copal can also be used to describe resinous substances in an intermediate stage of polymerization
Polymerization

In polymer chemistry, polymerization is a process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form three-dimensional networks or polymer chains....
 and hardening between more 'gummy' resins and amber
Amber

Amber is fossil tree resin, which is appreciated for its color and beauty. Good quality amber is used for the manufacture of ornamental objects and jewelry....
. The word copal is derived from the Nahuatl language
Nahuatl language

Nahuatl is a group of related languages and dialects of the Nahuan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family.Collectively they are spoken by an estimated Nahua peoples, most of whom live in Central Mexico....
 word , meaning "incense
Incense

Incense is composed of aromatic Biotic material materials. It releases fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces....
".






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Copal is a type of resin
Resin

Resin is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly Pinophyta. It is valued for its chemical constituents and uses, such as varnishes and adhesives, as an important source of raw materials for organic synthesis, or for incense and perfume....
 produced from plant or tree secretions
Plant sap

Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. Fluid found in the vacuoles of other cells is sometimes referred to as "cell sap"....
, often taken from members of the genus Copaifera
Copaifera

Copaifera is a genus of plants in the legume family , Fabaceae.The scientific name means "copal-bearer" , since economically important resins and essential oils can be acquired from them....
. The term is particularly identified with the forms of aromatic tree resins used by the cultures of pre-Columbian
Pre-Columbian

The pre-Columbian era incorporates all archaeology of the Americas in the history of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the Americas continents....
 Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica

Mesoamerica or Meso-America is a region and cultural area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua, within which a number of pre-Columbian society flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries....
 as a ceremonially burned incense
Incense

Incense is composed of aromatic Biotic material materials. It releases fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces....
, as well as for a number of other purposes. More generally, the term copal can also be used to describe resinous substances in an intermediate stage of polymerization
Polymerization

In polymer chemistry, polymerization is a process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form three-dimensional networks or polymer chains....
 and hardening between more 'gummy' resins and amber
Amber

Amber is fossil tree resin, which is appreciated for its color and beauty. Good quality amber is used for the manufacture of ornamental objects and jewelry....
. The word copal is derived from the Nahuatl language
Nahuatl language

Nahuatl is a group of related languages and dialects of the Nahuan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family.Collectively they are spoken by an estimated Nahua peoples, most of whom live in Central Mexico....
 word , meaning "incense
Incense

Incense is composed of aromatic Biotic material materials. It releases fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces....
". To the pre-Columbian Maya and contemporary Maya peoples it is known in the various Mayan languages as (or a close variation thereof), although the word itself has been demonstrated to be a loanword
Loanword

A loanword is a word directly taken into one language from another with little or no translation. By contrast, a calque or loan translation is a related concept whereby it is the Meaning or idiom that is borrowed rather than the lexical item itself....
 to Mayan from Mixe-Zoquean languages.

It is sometimes likened to, or substituted for, amber
Amber

Amber is fossil tree resin, which is appreciated for its color and beauty. Good quality amber is used for the manufacture of ornamental objects and jewelry....
 and put in jewellery
Jewellery

Jewellery is an item of personal adornment, such as a necklace, ring , brooch or bracelet, that is worn by a person. It may be made from gemstones or precious metals, but may be from any other material, and may be appreciated because of geometric or other patterns, or meaningful symbols....
.

Copal is still used by a number of indigenous peoples of Mexico
Indigenous peoples of Mexico

Mexico, in the second article of its constitution of Mexico, is defined as a "pluricultural" nation in recognition of the diverse ethnic groups that constitute it, and in which the indigenous peoples are the original foundation....
 and Central America
Central America

Central America is a central geography region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmus portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast....
 as an incense
Incense

Incense is composed of aromatic Biotic material materials. It releases fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces....
 and during sweat lodge
Sweat lodge

The sweat lodge is a Ceremony sauna and an important ritual used by some North American First Nations or Native Americans in the United States peoples....
 ceremonies. It is available in different forms. The hard, amber-like yellow copal is a less expensive version. The white copal, a hard, milky, sticky substance, is a more expensive version of the same resin
Resin

Resin is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly Pinophyta. It is valued for its chemical constituents and uses, such as varnishes and adhesives, as an important source of raw materials for organic synthesis, or for incense and perfume....
.