Unresolved Questions in the Study of *Mopa Mopa: History, Geography, and Chemistry

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.

*Mopa mopa is the collective name given to the resin from species of the plant genus *Elaeagia (family Rubiaceae) that grows in regions of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. The resin has been used from prehispanic times to the present day to decorate a range of objects from colonial Inka *qeros to highly decorated and prized luxury viceregal wooden objects such as chests and writing desks represented in museum collections around the world. The resin is used today by master artisans in Pasto, Colombia, for a folk art style called *barniz de pasto. The study of *mopa mopa is beset with apparent contradictions due to the scant archaeological record, inconsistently interpreted historical accounts, and limited ethnohistorical and art historical research. Challenges for experimental archaeology and the study of the chemistry of the resin have included the difficulty of obtaining botanical reference standards with which to compare samples from collections objects, and the relatively rare nature of the plant source and limited geographic access to raw material. Here, we review original source material, attempt a timeline, and consolidate the current information on botanical dispersion of the plants and published chemical analyses to provide a road map for future study.

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)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32444