The earliest Baltic amber in Western Europe

Nature ^ | August 31, 2023 | M. Murillo-Barroso, A. Martín Cólliga & M. Martinón-Torres

[SunkenCiv]

Abstract

The occurrence of Baltic amber through Europe has traditionally been associated to the spread of the Bell Beaker culture during the 3rd millennium BC. In Iberia, this phenomenon is particularly noticeable in the southern half. Here we present an amber bead recovered in a Late Neolithic funerary cave (3634–3363 cal BC) from northeastern Iberia where more than 12 individuals had been buried. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results of four samples revealed their complete resemblance with Baltic succinite reference spectra. Despite being a single bead, this finding provides the earliest evidence for the arrival of Baltic amber to the Mediterranean and Western Europe, before the Bell Beaker phenomenon and more than a millennium earlier than traditionally thought. This finding has implications for our understanding of early exchange networks of exotic materials, and their associated social structures.

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[Henchster]

This is what you're looking for:

[Chode]

But they tell me the Baltic coast is full of amber

And the land was green

Before the tanks came…

[frogjerk]

I thought this was about beer.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Amazing how people stay the same over thousands of years.

[SunkenCiv]

Indirectly, it was, the beer kept this information from being discovered for generations. ;^)