Interesting facts about amber and its history

Here are some interesting facts about amber, along with a wealth of information and facts about this extraordinary stone.

Amber is essentially fossilized resin, forgotten for millions of years, most commonly from coniferous trees. Over the centuries, people have attributed many characteristics and properties to these golden stones, which we now know had little to do with reality. However, there’s no denying that amber has an incredible charm and often hides a mystery from millions of years ago, preserved in a hardened drop of golden fluid.

In the article below, we have gathered interesting facts about amber, as well as a lot of information and facts related to amber. I invite you to read, and also ask you to contact us if you know any stories about amber that are missing from our text.

Interesting Facts About Amber: What It Is and How It Formed

Amber is the fossilized resin of trees that lived on Earth millions of years ago.
Amber primarily came from coniferous trees and, less frequently, from deciduous trees.
The resin, which today is amber, oozed from the trunks of trees through injuries and cracks in their outer parts.
Resin secretion is a form of tree defence against viruses and pests.
In extreme conditions, trees excessively secrete resin in response to sudden changes in climate and environmental conditions, such as a volcanic eruption.
Today, we distinguish over 60 types of amber.
Amber can have many colours, from light yellow to dark brown and red.
The oldest finds come from earth layers formed in the Devonian period, the fourth period of the Paleozoic era, about 400 million years ago.
The largest deposits of amber are in Russia.
It is believed that Russia’s amber resources make up 90 percent of all amber on Earth.
Some lumps of amber contain plant, insect, and even animal remains. Such stones are called inclusions.
Inclusions are very valuable to scientists, who, by examining the preserved remains, can determine with great accuracy the environment they come from.

Interesting Facts About Baltic Amber

Baltic amber, also known as Baltic gold, is a type of amber that formed in the Eocene era, about 40 million years ago.
It has not been precisely determined which trees produced Baltic amber. It is attributed to a now-extinct type of pine known as the “amber tree.”
Thanks to numerous inclusions, scientists have determined the exact conditions that prevailed in what are now the countries along the Baltic Sea coast.
Baltic amber is very heterogeneous, meaning it is a stone of many colours and varying transparency.
Often, amber stones found along the Baltic coast are matte due to numerous air bubbles inside them.
Amber has been a very popular material used in jewellery, medicine, and religious ceremonies for centuries.
For our ancestors, amber was a very valuable and sought-after trade material.
In ancient times, a trade route called the Amber Road was established, connecting Rome with the Baltic Sea coast.
The Polish section of the Amber Road led through the Kłodzko Valley, Silesia, Greater Poland, and Ouyahia to the Baltic Sea.
In the Middle Ages, in the territory of the Teutonic Order, the Order had the exclusive right to trade amber. Illegal possession of amber objects was punishable by death.
Baltic amber remains a very valuable and sought-after gem used in silver and gold ornaments.

Amber as a Precious Decorative Material

Amber has been used as a decorative material since ancient times, as well as a medicinal substance and an important element in various ceremonies and religious practices.
Amber was traded throughout the ancient world.
Amber ornaments were made as early as the Stone Age.
In ancient Rome, amber was particularly popular, and expeditions were organized to obtain this beautiful stone.
Amber is effortless to work with, being soft and light.
Not only personal jewellery was made from amber, but also tables, dishes, sculptures, and even furniture.
The greatest work of amber craftsmanship was the Amber Room, created in the 18th century by Gdańsk masters. It was an entire room made of amber, including furniture and sculptures. Unfortunately, this work of art disappeared during World War II.
Today, amber is still used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
The largest international amber fairs take place in Gdańsk.

Interesting Facts in Folklore

Amber has always been attributed magical and supernatural qualities.
In folk medicine, amber played a critical role and was a remedy for many ailments.
It was believed that the smoke from burning amber killed germs and prevented infection.
Crushed into powder, amber was used as an additive to tobacco and sniffed like snuff.
Amber had various names. It was called warm gold, the sun stone, and in Northern Europe, the wish stone.
It was believed that amber prevented food from rotting, so it was used as a preservative.
In legends and folklore, amber worn on the body protected the owner from diseases and bad energy.
Special amulets were made from amber to protect against evil forces and black magic.
In Ancient Greece, amber was associated with the sun, and its main property was to ward off evil spirits.
It was also believed that sunlight was trapped inside amber.
Greek philosophers argued about whether amber had a soul. This idea arose when it was noticed that amber rubbed against cloth attracted other objects.
In ancient Rome, amber was eaten with vegetables and fruits, believing it contributed to longevity.
Also in Rome, amber was burned in incense to obtain a delicate and pleasant scent.
Amber was an object of worship for the people of the North Sea and Baltic regions.
Amber mined along the Baltic Sea reached as far as Egypt.
Amber goes by various names, such as elektron or lyngourion.
The Slavs believed that amber came from the bottom of the Baltic Sea, where there was an amber palace of the sea goddess Jurata.
Legend has it that one day Jurata fell in love with a mortal. A jealous sea god killed the unfortunate man, and Jurata’s palace was destroyed by lightning. It is the remnants of this once beautiful palace that can be found on the seashore today.
Amber also had its place in magical practices.

Other Interesting Facts About Amber

The word “amber” comes from the German word “bornstein,” which literally means “burning stone.”
Amber floats in salty seawater but sinks in freshwater. This is one way to ensure you are buying genuine amber and not a fake.
Amber is very sensitive to chemicals, so amber jewellery should be removed during household chores or bathing.
Amber is best cleaned dry or with warm soapy water. For heavy soiling, you can use alcohol and then rinse thoroughly.
If you want amber decorations to maintain their beautiful appearance, they should be stored in a shaded place, preferably wrapped in a soft cloth.
When buying amber, it is good to check the seller and ask for a certificate.
Amber is very soft and can be easily scratched.
The largest lump of amber ever found weighed almost 10 kilograms. It was found in Poland near the town of Kamień Pomorski. It can be seen in the Natural History Museum of the University of Berlin.
The melting point of amber is about 300 degrees Celsius.

Polish version