Amber is a semi-precious gem that is formed over eons by natural forces out of the resin of trees. Human fascination with amber dates back to prehistoric times, when it was probably considered to have magical powers and was used for adornment and trade. Amber amulets and beads dating from 35,000 to 1,800 B.C. have been found, and where they have been found (for example in graves hundreds of miles from their chemically determined origins) has often helped to establish ancient trade routes. The preservative qualities of plant resins were well known by the ancients. The Egyptians used resins to...

This extensively illustrated book, the first major review of Lebanese amber, covers all aspects of the highly valued resin, including its origin and its role as a commodity in ancient cultures. Paleontologists, biologists, and evolutionists will appreciate the book's new information, along with its summary of early research and its analysis of what amber fossils reveal about insect diversification, biogeography, extinction, and survival.