Meanings and Uses of Amber from Chiapas from the Perspective of the Local Population

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify and understand the meanings and uses of amber from the perspective and experience of the population of Chiapas, Mexico. A qualitative approach with a grounded theory design and a social psychological perspective were used. Sixty inhabitants from different municipalities of the state of Chiapas participated. Field work was carried out in May, June and July of 2022. The results of the study indicate that the use of amber as a protective amulet and as jewelry stands out, as well as its value in the scientific, economic, handicraft, ornamental, medicinal, artistic and identity fields. A limitation of the study is that it did not incorporate the population of all the municipalities that have amber deposits in Chiapas. The value of the study lies in the fact that it provides knowledge of cultural practices and perceptions of amber, which allows understanding how the local population interprets and uses amber in their daily lives. It is concluded that amber from Chiapas should be understood as an object and social construct with a plural, multidimensional and polysemic meaning.