Amate Bark is handmade today in Mexico just as it was in the 1300's. The bark comes from downed fig trees. Once collected, it is washed in mountain streams, boiled, beaten by stone, and then sun dried. The bark is naturally light brown, but is often dyed into a rich palette of colors. Amate Bark has long been used for painting, writing, and even for book-making by the ancient Mexicans.