Exudates and Resins Used by the Maya as Potential Candidates for Natural Bioactive Adhesives, Gums, and Protective Coatings

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Plant Exudates and Other Binders, Adhesives, and Coatings in the Americas" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Both the ancient and modern Maya have employed a broad range of plant exudates, gums, resins, and other natural products for many centuries. Numerous plant species indigenous to Mesoamerica possess bioactive compounds that have served as medicine, pesticides, fish poisons, dyes, adhesives, unguents, tanning agents, incense, saponins, and other useful purposes. This paper will present data from ethnographic accounts and archaeological contexts from Aguateca, Cerén, Chan, Copan, Tikal, Yaxnohcah, and other ancient Maya sites. Plants to be discussed, all known archaeobotanically, will include *Acacia spp., *Annona muricata, *Brysonima crassifolia, *Bucida buceras, *Clusia flava, *Enterolobium cyclocarpum, *Hamelia patens, *Hymenaea courbaril, *Persea americana, *Piper spp., *Pouteria sapota, and other plants. Most of these useful plants possess properties that are underutilized and have promise as natural adhesives, gums, resins, and protective substances in a broader range of applications.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Plant Exudates and Other Binders, Adhesives, and Coatings in the Americas   •
• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32460