This paper presents some of the results of an anthropological investigation into resin collection, technology, and trade among the Semelai of Tasek Bera. The investigation focused upon the relationship between these substances and a representative culture that could provide clues for the interpretation of resin technology in prehistoric, protohistoric, and historic Malaya. It cannot be assumed that past Malayan peoples evinced a pattern of resin use and trade identical to, or even similar to the Semelai, but this type of work can generate hypotheses useful for future research. An added benefit of the project was the retrieval of data relevant to current problems of tropical ecology and forest mangement. Discussion of these is divided into three sections: the tapping of Dipterocarpus kerrii oleo-resin, the collecting of hard resins, and the extraction of gharuwood.