Great Etruscan Museum in Orvieto (Italy)

Located about halfway between Rome and Florence, the city of Orvieto was inhabited by Etruscans from the ninth century BC until 264 BC, when the area was conquered by the Romans. This wonderful city has a rich cultural heritage with medieval architecture, many palaces and a fantastic cathedral. It also sits high above the valley on a rocky hill surrounded by a beautiful typical Italian landscape.

View of the town of Orvieto in Umbria (Italy)

The "Museo Etrusco Claudio Faina", just opposite the cathedral, houses an important archaeological collection of Etruscan works. During the early Iron Age in Europe (c. 800 to 400 BC), when trade in amber and other materials was growing rapidly, many wealthy Etruscan aristocrats gave their wives amber jewellery from the north, as it had both symbolic and economic value.

Exterior view of the "Museo Claudio Faina" in Orvieto

One of the most beautiful amber necklaces on display in the Museo Claudio Faina is a necklace of 14 acorn-shaped beads found during an archaeological excavation near Orvieto

Amber necklace from the 6th century BC (inventory number 2201).

Literature:
- https://www.umbriatourism.it/en/orvieto
- Larissa Bonfante, New York University, JBS, Vol. XVI, no. 3 (Autumn 1985)
- The "Museo Claudio Faina" in Orvieto - (www.museofaina.it)

Lecture about amber in the castle-like "Hof zu Wil

Last week I had the opportunity to give a lecture on amber in the beautiful, about 800 years old, castle-like "Hof zu Wil". Afterwards the participants of the wine club "Vinum et Vagantes" had the opportunity to experience the nearly 50 exhibits of my private amber collection. Many special pieces of raw amber from different countries with a large color spectrum (yellow, brown, red, dark blue, black as well as white) were shown. A number of amber replicas of museum objects from the Neolithic, Bronze, Celtic and Viking periods, the Middle Ages to modern times were also part of the exhibition.

The presentation was structured as follows;

 I. How amber was formed

II. properties of amber

III. amber is found on almost all continents

V. Amber as a trade and cultural good

Abbot's room in the castle-like courtyard in Wil

Some exhibits of resin and amber

Further exhibits

Archaeological Amber Finds from the Early Bronze Age to the Early Latène Period from Slovenia

The area of today's Slovenia was inhabited already in the Palaeolithic Age. From the large and attractive karst cave in Loza near Orehek well preserved stone tools were found from this period. Not far from there, the oldest flute in the world (about 45,000-60,000 years old) was found in the cave "Divje babe".

A large number of amber grave goods found prove that this prosperous region had many trade contacts with other regions already during the Early Bronze Age (see map below).

New research has shown that the area of Novo Mesto (south-eastern Slovenia) was characterized by intensive settlement during several millennia. In the 1st millennium BC Novo Mesto was even the seat of the Hallstatt princes. Grave goods made of gold, bronze, glass and amber were found in the generously stocked women's graves. More than 120 tombs contained astonishing amounts of amber jewellery. Thousands of amber beads from the early to late Iron Age were found in some of them. All chemical analyses so far confirm that the amber is from the Baltic or North Sea.

The great wealth from this area and at that time can be attributed to various factors; the fertile soil, the abundance of water, the convenient location, as well as the rich iron and brown iron ore deposits. The basis of the economy included iron smelting, agriculture, as well as glass melting and the creation of brightly coloured glass beads.

Since red coloured glass beads were not produced in this region, amber beads were used instead.

Necklace made of amber beads and a white glass bead

Novo Mesto, Kapiteljska njiva, Mound A Grave 2/99. 7-6th century B.C. (Amber and glass jewellery from Novo Mesto Slovenia, page 75.)

Literature:

• Bernstein- und Glasschmuck aus Novo Mesto Slowenien, Sonderausstellung vom 8.5.-2.11.2003 Keltenmuseum Hochdorf  / Enz, Schriftenreihe des Keltenmuseums Hochdorf/Enz

• https://duhoc.cn/wiki/de/Divje_babe

• https://ome-lexikon.uni-oldenburg.de/laender/slowenien

• Christa Stahl Mitteleuropäische Bernsteinfunde von der Frühbronze-bis zur Frühlatènezeit, Verlag J.H. Röll, 2006, Seiten 113 – 122

• https://www.visitdolenjska.eu/de/markenzeichen.html

Archaeological amber finds around Lake Zug

The Zug area with its archaeological sites is extremely interesting. Since June 27, 2011, three of the 33 sites around Lake Zug, namely "Zug-Sumpf", "Zug-Oterswil/Insel Eielen" and "Zug-Riedmatt" are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Many amber beads from the Middle Bronze Age have been found. Some of them are exhibited in the Museum of Prehistory in the city of Zug. The museum impresses with a very vivid and lively presentation of the archaeological finds. The museum is also exciting for children and young people. A story tour presents the everyday life of people from the Ice Age to the Middle Ages in a very understandable way.

From the late Bronze Age settlement Zug-Sumpf (around 1000 BC) beads made of amber and glass were found. Chromatographic analysis showed that the amber was Baltic amber.

Amber find from Zug-Sumpf

Beads of amber and glass. Finds from the Late Bronze Age settlement of Zug-Sumpf, c. 1050-850 B.C. Photo credits. Photo Museum of Prehistory (n). Res Eichenberger.

Zug has a beautiful, historic old town, which can look back on 800 years of history, as well as a picturesque location on Lake Zug with a view of the Alps.

City of Zug with a view of Lake Zug.

Literature:

• http:/www.pfahlbau.ch/index.php/fundstaetten-in-zug

• Die spätbronzezeitlichen Ufersiedlungen von Zug-Sumpf Band 3/1, Die Funde 1923-37 Zug 2004, speziell: Beitrag von Beatrice Ruckstuhl über Schmuck aus Glas, Bernstein und Sapropelit in diesem Buch.

Archaeological amber findings from the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands.

In the Netherlands some necklaces, beads and pendants made of amber have been excavated by archaeologists. They mostly date from the Early Bronze Age to the Early Latène Period (see map below).

In the province of Drenthe (in the northeast of the country, east of the Ijsselmeer) there is a considerable amount of Early to Middle Bronze Age necklace finds. The necklaces are mostly made of amber beads and in some cases are supplemented by beads made of faience, pewter and bronze sheet. The raw amber for the necklaces most likely came from not too far away (Friesland or possibly Jutland). It is assumed that many of the necklaces were made locally.

Archeologie van Nederland - Rijksmuseum van Oudheden

Amber beads, 1200-800 B.C., Emmen, Netherlands.

In the Bronze Age (1900-800 BC), agricultural life flourished in the Drenthe region. It is estimated that about 4,500 people, spread over small settlements, lived in Drenthe at that time. Today, the province is a Mecca for cyclists with three beautiful national parks within its borders: National Park "Dwingelderveld" with the largest contiguous wet heath area in the Netherlands, National Park "Drents-Friese Wold" with the second largest contiguous forest area in Holland, National Park "Drentsche Aa" with many heath fields, moors and dunes.

The National Park "Dwingelderveld" is the largest contiguous wet heath area in the Netherlands, in: https://reise-stories.de/drenthe-ist-hollands-fahrrad-provinz-nummer-1/ Photo: MarketingDrenthe.

Literature:

• Archeologie van Nederland - Rijksmuseum van Oudheden

• J.J Butler, BRONZE AGE METAL AND AMBER IN THE NETHERLANDS (I)Biologisch-Archaeologisch Instituut Groningen, Nederland

• https://reise-stories.de/drenthe-ist-hollands-fahrrad-provinz-nummer-1/

• https://www.terugindrenthe.nl/en/timelines/prehistory/

Amber in the Kurpie region of northeastern Poland

The wide distribution of amber products throughout Poland, even from the Neolithic period, prove that amber was an important material as well as a significant trade object in Poland in early times.

In Poland there are also many amber deposits outside the Baltic Sea area, e.g. in the Kurpie region, where amber has long been extracted from swamps or rivers during fishing. The Kurpians recognized the amber sediments in the marshes and bogs by the rusty brown color of the water surface. Using simple tools, they then extracted the amber. By the middle of the 19th century, 130 small amber mines still existed in the region.

The settlements in the Kurpie region were often quite isolated in the middle of the pine forest and people lived from what they produced themselves. Amber working was an important secondary source of income. The carved or drilled objects could be used as trade items. Among the locals, chandelier-like ceiling hangings (called kierec) were popular.

Kierec - ceiling ornament

Made by Gabriela Gierłowska according to the model of the old Kurp ceiling decoration, in: Gdansk Museum, http://dziedzichtwo-gdansk.pl/online-collection

Folk costumes from the Kurpie-Zielone region

Women in the Kurpie region often wore white linen blouses with borders and colourful skirts and vests. An amber necklace is always part of the costume. In Poland, the traditional Kurpie wedding is very famous. The wedding feast includes many special dances, songs and solemn chants and ceremonies. Wedding necklaces made of amber are a must in this process.

Folk costumes from the Kurpie-Zielone region in Poland, July 9, 2015.

Folk song and dance ensemble of Warsaw University "Warszawianka".

Literature

Bernstein, Tears of the Gods, Edition Glückauf, p 305 - 308 as well as p 321-324

http://www.urlaubsland-polen.pl/nachrichten/detailseite/07022012

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurpie

https://polishcostumes.tumblr.com/post/123644391382/folk-costumes-from-kurpie-zielone-poland

Archaeological amber finds in Germany

Archaeological excavations in Germany have brought to light many amber objects from graves and depos from the Early Bronze Age (2200-1600 B.C.) to the Early Latène Age/Younger Iron Age (450- 30 B.C.). Based on the well-founded research work of Dr. Christa Stahl, we have entered all of the approximately 500 sites listed by her for the period between 2200 -30 BC in a map, with details of the amber objects excavated there (see map below).

It can be assumed that the graves containing amber objects belonged to women from wealthy families. Often jewellery such as amber beads, amber rings, amber slides, amber pendants etc. appeared there. They were very valuable at that time and often distinguished the owner during his lifetime. Both the beauty of amber, as well as its presumed magical protective properties have helped it gain its special significance.

Interestingly, the many burials of amber objects in tombs coincide with the beginning of bronze casting technology. Therefore, it is believed that bronze objects were a preferred medium of exchange for amber.

Necklace from the Early Bronze Age found in Halle-Queis (Saxony-Anhalt).

The reconstruction based on the found parts (about 3200 years old) results in a necklace consisting of two chains. The mostly rectangular amber beads are connected to each other by bronze rollers. This necklace was found in a grave of a wealthy woman in an early bronze-age cup, which was laid down as an offering to the gods and expectation of salvation for the woman.

Necklace from the early bronze age

Finding place: Halle-Queis (Saxony-Anhalt)

Photo: Juraj Liptàk

Jewellery from the older Iron Age found in Bavaria near Niedererlbach

In the Isar valley near Niedererlbach, archaeologists have found one of the richest women's graves from the 7th century BC. As a burial object, the wealthy woman wore a unique amber necklace with 480 amber beads. It has five strands held in place by so-called amber sliders. Several amber rings, which were attached to the chest area, were also found.

Jewellery from the older iron age

Finding place: Niedererlbach in Bavaria

Literature

• Christa Stahl, Mitteleuropäische Bernsteinfunde von der Frühbronze-bis zur Frühlatènezeit. Ihre Verbreitung, Formgebung, Zeitstellung und Herkunft. Verlag J. H. Röll GmbH, 2006, Dettelbach

• Der geschmiedete. Die weite Welt im Herzen Europas vor 3600 Jahren. Herausgegeben von Harald Meller Fotos von Juraj Lipták, © 2004 Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt – Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle Konrad Theiss Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart.

• https://www.bavarikon.de, Archäologische Staatssammlung München - Bildnummer: GD 1999-367Archäologische Staatssammlung München - Inventarnummer: 1993,698c·         Niedererlbach, Gde. Buch a.Erlbach, Lkr. Landshut, Reg.-Bez. Niederbayern ca. 650 - 600 v. Chr. L 3,3 cm (Schieber) / Material: Bernstein

• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depot_ von_Queis

From La Tène (CH) to the Amber Coast

The beautiful lakeside situated and largest archaeological museum in Switzerland "Laténium" near Neuchâtel displays many artefacts found in the region from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Since Lake Neuchâtel holds remains of prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements, a special focus is placed on them. The heyday of the Bronze Age shore settlements is dated to about 1100 BC. Only a few amber objects bear witness to this period.

Another focus of the "Laténium" museum are finds from the younger Iron Age (450 B.C. to 15 B.C.) from the settlement founded by the Celts at La Tène on the eastern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. About 2'500 objects made of iron, bronze, wood, pottery, glass and amber beads were excavated there. The site became the namesake of the well-known La Tène culture throughout Europe in the 19th century.

During the La Tène period, the Celts organized the European amber trade and controlled, among other things, the Western Amber Road, i.e. the trade route from the North Sea to Marseille. Starting from La Tène we have tried to reconstruct the Western Amber Road to Büsum (part of the Amber Coast on the Wadden Sea) (see map below).

At that time necklaces made of glass and amber beads were also very common in Switzerland.

 Photo: View of Lake Neuchâtel from the Laténium Archaeological Park.

Photo: North Sea coast near Büsum on the Wadden Sea in Germany.

Literature:

• Johannes Richter, Der Brenner & Tuisc Codex, Über die Bernsteinrouten und die teutsche Religion, R. G. Fischer Verlag, Frankfurt am Main, 2006

• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laténium

• https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/articles/008015/2014-02-19

• Pfahlbau und Uferdorf. Leben in der Steinzeit und Bronzezeit. Glanzlichter aus dem Bernischen Historischen Museum 13, 2004, Chronos Verlag.

• http:www.altwege.de/roemer-und-kelten/vorgeschichtliche-wege.html

Sensational amber find from the rock tomb of the royal palace of Qatna

A few years ago, researchers began to study the ruins of the former kingdom of Qatna (in present-day Syria) again. The royal palace was built at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC and covers an area of 18,000 square meters. At that time Qatna was an important commercial metropolis. It controlled the long-distance trade routes from Mesopotamia towards the Mediterranean and from Anatolia down to the pharaohs in Egypt.

Today's desert areas around Qatna were then covered by green cedar forests. Cedar wood from the forests of Lebanon and Syria supplied the entire Orient. The proximity to Cyprus, where an important raw material, copper, was mined, was of central importance and helped the rulers gain power.

It is therefore not surprising that deep under the foundations of the palace, in the royal tomb, almost 2000 valuable individual finds of gold, alabaster, lapis lazuli, bronze, ivory, clay and stone were uncovered and recovered by the excavation team. Interesting for us is an object made of Baltic amber; the lion's head, about 6 cm long. This sensational find confirms that 3300 years ago there were trade connections to the beaches of Northern Europe.

Lion head vessel made of amber (front view), 2nd half of the 2nd millennium BC, National Museum Damascus

© Landesmuseum Württemberg, Stuttgart; Photo: Hendrik Zwietasch/ Peter Frankenstein, Stuttgart

Lion's head made of Baltic amber, (Photo: K. Wita).

Literature:

• Gisela Graichen / Alexander Hesse, Die Bernsteinstrasse, Verborgene Handelswege zwischen Ostsee und Nil, Seiten 89 - 93

• https://kultur-online.net/inhalt/(die-entdeckung-des-königreichs-qatna, 5.03.2010

Great amber museum in Nida (Lithuania)

Our stone-age ancestors carved small figures out of amber, which probably had cultic meaning. Such wooden replicas of these figures stand life-size in front of the Amber Gallery Museum in Nida. They impress the visitor with their mystical appearance and make him curious. When entering the rooms, a mysterious world opens up, the world of amber. Beautiful large raw amber, amber with inclusions (insects, spiders and plants) attract the attention of the visitors. In Judokranté (Schwarzort), near Nida on the Curonian Spit in Lithuania, in the middle of the 19th century Richard Klebs found a considerable number of amber artifacts from the Neolithic Age (3000 BC). Many objects, such as beautifully carved figures in the form of people or animals from this famous "Judokranté treasure" are part of the exhibition. We leave this museum filled with fantastic, unforgettable impressions. Nida, the small town with its colourful fishermen's cottages and lovingly designed gardens is a place of silence, of peace. The nearby dune landscape is impressive. On the viewing platform, a wide panorama opens up; the old lighthouse, the silhouettes of Nida's cottages and the sparkling Curonian Lagoon.

Amber Gallery-Museum in Nida (Lithuania)

Dune scenery near Nida

Literature:

• Virginija & Kazimieras Mizgiris, Geheimnisvolle Bernsteinwelt, ISBN 9986-31-167-5

• http://www.ambergallery.lt/de/bernsteingalerie-museum/

Amber playing figures from the Viking Age

In summer 2005 Martin Rundkvist and his team archaeologically investigated boat graves from the Iron Age and younger Viking Age in Skamby (Östergötland, Sweden). In one of the boat graves, apart from material remains of the boat, a horse gear, a red glass bead, a whetstone, an iron knife and 23 amber game pieces were found (see https://ww.lansstyrelsen.se). The figures were exhibited in the Museum Östergötland for a long time. During the Viking Age the game "Hnefatafl" (=board game similar to Tablut) was very popular. It was considered "bon ton" that one knew how to play it. Most of the figures were made of wood and not of amber (see Damian Walker).

Foto Martin Rundkvist

Literature:

• https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/ostergotland/besoksmal/kulturmiljoer/batgravar-i-skamby.html#0

• Damian Walker, Reconstructing Hnefatafl, 2014, ISBN 978-1-291-73078-4

The light captured by amber

Finds from tombs in Calabria and the region of Basilicata (7th-4th century B.C.) are characterized by an unusual richness of amber. On the pre-Roman inhabitants these amber amulets had a magical and protective character. At that time people believed that the light caught by amber accompanied the deceased on their journey. The wonderful exhibition "Zauber in Bernstein" (see Christoph Reusser, exhibition catalog), which was presented in many European countries, showed works of art in miniature format of refined production. Wonderful pendants in the shape of a female head and winged sphinx originate from the region of ancient Italy "Basilicata". These figures symbolized the abduction of mortals to the afterlife.

Latronico (Basilicata region) Amber pendant in the shape of a female head in profile, second half of 5th century BC (Photo: UZH)

Melfi (Basilicata region) Amber pendant with sphinx, 5th century BC (Photo: UZH)

Literature:

• Faya Causey, Amber and the Ancient World, Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 2011

• Christoph Reusser, Ausstellungskatalog: Archäologisches Institut Zürich: Zauber in Bernstein, 2011

Giant "amber" find in Baltic Sea

An extraordinary find was made by Swedish fishermen in 1988. They pulled between Gotland and Klaipėda with their trawl net a 238 kg heavy resin lump on board (http://. brost.se/swe, Michael Ganzelewski.. , S 156). More exact analyses showed that it is a younger (< 1 million old) resin. This huge lump is today exhibited in the "Swedish Amber Museum" in Kämpinge (see photo). The small museum is an experience in itself. When its owner, Leif Brost, talks about the individual finds on display, he breathes life into them. The history and origin of amber is enchanting. The museum with its surroundings is a magical place (see photo).

Literature:

• http://ww.brost.se/swe/welcome/index.html

• Michael Ganzelewski / Rainer Slotta, Bernstein - Tränen der Götter, Seite 156. Verlag Glückauf, Essen, 1997

Strongly resinous trees in Madagascar

Madagascar was already separated from the mainland millions of years ago. Scientists therefore consider it to be one of the older islands. Its remote location left room for the development of nature. This is why the plant and animal world on Madagascar is so unique. Many of its plants and animals are nowhere else in the world. In Madagascar, deciduous trees such as the "Hymenaei verrucosa" can be found, which also today supply large quantities of resin. The tree is also called "Zanzibar copal", "East African copal" or "Amber tree". The well-founded and exciting book "Pflanzen in Bernstein" shows impressively how strong the resin flow can be. One of the authors, Carsten Gröhn, has convinced himself on site that the resin can be hardened and polished very quickly after the outflow (see Carsten Gröhn/Max J. Kobbert). A few weeks after the injury of a tree, the author had to blast the resin from the trunk tree with hammer and chisel.

Photo: Xavier Delclòs, Recent resin formation on Hymenaea trees in Madagascar

Literature:

• Carsten Gröhn / Max J. Kobbert, Pflanzen seit der Saurierzeit eingeschlossen in Bernstein. Wachholtz, 2017

• https://research-news.org/2020/05/19/madagaskar-kopal-entpuppt-sich-als-harz
  

Huge amber deposit discovered in Spain

In 2008, scientists from the Spanish Institute of Geology and Mining (IGME) discovered a huge amber deposit in the northern Spanish region of Cantabria (see Maria Najarro..., https://welt.de). The deposit, which was found in the cave of El Soplao west of Santander and has an age of about 110 million years, consists mainly of stones with a bluish-violet coloration. This colour is very rare and has been found mainly in the Dominican Republic. The El Soplao cave is also a real paradise for those interested in caves. A network of caves with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites amazes visitors. A mining train leads into the interior of the very extensive cave, from where you can continue on foot for longer distances.

Literature:

• María NAJARRO, Enrique PEÑALVER, Ricardo PÉREZ‐DE LA FUENTE/Review of the El Soplao Amber Outcrop, Early Cretaceous of Cantabria, Spain, 23. August 2010, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-6724.2010.00258.x

• https://www.welt.de/wissenschaft/article2679404 /Groesstes-Bernstein-Vorkommen-in-Europa-entdeckt.html