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Museo del Ambar, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas

CHIAPAS AMBER MUSEUM:

Founded on December 4th, 2000, the museum displays more than 300 pieces of amber.

It is located in the interior of the EX CONVENTO DE LA MERCED (La Merced ex-convent) -a building receiving an ongoing reconstruction by the efforts of the PATRONATO PRO RECONSTRUCCIÓN DEL EX CONVENTO DE LA MERCED A.C. patronage.

This museum, unique of its type in all America, presents the visitor information and pieces that show the origin of amber, a comparison between european and our amber, replicas of prehispanic ornaments and medicinal uses, pieces with inclusions (animal and vegetal of various sizes) and a collection of sculptures by different master artisans. At the end of the visit you can watch a documentary that will expand your knowledge on Amber.

The museography, museum script, lighting and design help children and adults, enjoy and appreciate the geological history, our ancestors' culture, and the magic this gem radiates.

Amber from Chiapas, a great mexican pride!

AMBER FROM CHIAPAS:

The name comes from an arabic word that means "that which floats on water". The Aztec called it APOZONALLI, "foam of water" in Náhuatl. Here in Chiapas it is called PAUCH by the tzotzil.

Amber is a hard substance, amorphous, with a low density and easy to break. It is a fossilized resin, vegetal in origin, around 25 to 30 million years old. The resin comes from a tree called Guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril) part of the legume family. Although it is extracted from mines amber is not a mineral.

COLORS AND TECHNIQUES:

Although Chiapas has the third biggest bed of amber in the world (after the countries of the Baltic sea and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), experts have considered amber from Chiapas as the most beautiful for its texture, transparency and great variety of colors. Yellow is the most known color, but there are also less known ones such as red, cognac, green and pink.

The techniques used to work amber are lapidary, high and low reliefs, and sculpting. Archeologist have proven that amber was used by prehistorical men, making it the first jewelry worn by human kind. The most antique piece of amber (baltic amber) worked by men was discovered in Hannover, Germany and is dated more than 30,000 years ago.

Diego de Mazariegos s/n - Parque de la Merced - Col Centro San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas Tel:(967) 678 97 16 Fax: 678 03 10

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SERVICES:

Guided visits.
Cafeteria.
Gift-shop (amber jewelry, books, photographs).
Amber workshop.
Artistic and cultural workshops.
Conference rooms.
Microscope (to observe the fossilized insects)
Documentary about amber.
"Is it real amber?" detector.

OPENING HOURS:

from 10:00 to 14:00 hrs. and
from 16:00 to 19:00 hrs.

ADMISSION FEES (in Mexican Pesos):

General $20.00
Students (Mexican) / INSEN - INAPAM
$10.00 (must present valid ID )
Children $ 10.00

Visit us online at:

www.museodelambar.com.mx

Diego de Mazariegos s/n - Parque de la Merced - Col Centro San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas Tel:(967) 678 97 16 Fax: 678 03 10

Email | More information | Information about San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas

Travel By México, SA de CV | Visit Us | RSS