First examples of Iberian prehistoric 'imitation amber' beads at gravesites

EurekAlert! ^ | May 1, 2019 | PLOS

[SunkenCiv]

Prehistoric Iberians created "imitation amber" by repeatedly coating bead cores with tree resins...

Many studies have confirmed the ornamental and symbolic importance of amber to European prehistoric peoples. This study is the first to discuss potential prehistoric Iberian "imitation amber" beads made using the application of repeated resinite coatings on top of a bead core.

The authors obtained beads from two prehistoric sites in Spain: two from a cave tomb at the La Molina site in Sevilla, dating from the 3rd millennium BC, and four from a burial site in Cova del Gegant near Barcelona, dating from the 2nd millennium BC...

The beads from Cova del Gegant had a mollusk shell core, covered by a multilayered coating made up of tree resins, most likely pine. The beads were covered by a calcium-containing white deposit, which likely precipitated post-burial from the bone tissue of buried individuals. The beads from La Molina were also composed of a core covered by an amber-like resin, as well as two topmost layers of cinnabar and calcite which probably coated the beads post-burial.

The authors speculate these coating technologies were used to imitate amber's translucence, shine, and color, since during this prehistoric period, amber was relatively rare and highly in demand. However, both tomb sites contained other exotic materials such as ivory, gold and cinnabar, so it's not clear why individuals able to obtain these rare goods would use amber alternatives. The authors speculate that, especially in the Cova del Gegant where "imitation amber" was found directly alongside true amber beads, unscrupulous traders may have substituted low-cost fake amber to cheat their buyers.

[SunkenCiv]

These are amber bead samples studied in this paper. Credit: Odriozola et al., 2019

[SunkenCiv]

[blueunicorn6]

Barefoot, dope smoking, bead wearing, ancient filthy hippies.

Probably wore striped bell bottoms.

[ClearCase_guy]

Cheap knock-offs from China.

[dfwgator]

Somebody bring da Amber Lamps!

[Dexter Morgan]

Thanks for the good laugh on my first article click of the day. =)

[dynachrome]

So, the cubic zirconia of the day?

[livius]

Very interesting!

[SunkenCiv]

:^)

[SunkenCiv]

The "Look Back In Amber" keyword:

• First examples of Iberian prehistoric 'imitation amber' beads at gravesites [2019]
• Frozen in time Ancient insects trapped in amber at the precise moment they hatched from their eggs [2018]
• Ancient bird fossils have 'the weirdest feathers I have ever seen' [2018]
• 99-Million-Year-Old Snake Hatchling Found Encased in Burmese Amber [2018]
• A surprise find: 99-million-year-old frog encased in amber [2018]
• Remarkable spider with a tail found preserved in amber after 100 million years [2018]
• Ticks Trapped in Amber Were Likely Sucking Dinosaur Blood [2017]
• Ticks That Fed on Dinosaurs Found Trapped in Amber [2017]
• New Cretaceous Fossils Shed Light On The Early Evolution Of Ants [2016]
• Ancient flowering plant was beautiful -- but probably poisonous [2016]
• Scientists Have Found An Ancient Fossilized Mosquito Full Of Blood (46 Million Years OLD) [2013]
• Dinosaur Feathers Discovered in Canadian Amber [2013]
• A Fossilized Scene of a Spider Attacking a Wasp, Preserved for 110 Million Years [2012]
• Prehistoric tiny bugs found trapped in amber [2012]
• 'Dinofuzz' Found in Canadian Amber [2011]
• Peru researchers make rare ancient insect find [2011]
• Prehistoric mammal hair found in Cretaceous amber [2010]
• Marine plankton found in amber [2008]
• Scientists Discover 356 Animal Inclusions Trapped In Opaque Amber 100 Million Years Old [2008]
• Dino-Era Feathers Found Encased In Amber (100 Million Years Old) [2008]
• How Amber Becomes Death Trap For Watery Creatures [2007]
• Scientist: Frog Could Be 25M Years Old [2007]
• Scientist finds 100 million-year-old bee [2006]
• Spider 'is 20 million years old' [2005]
• Oldest spider silk preserved in amber [2003]
• Dinosaur Breath - Cretaceous Atmosphere Sample obtained and Studied. [2003]