Millions of years ago, insects were trapped within sticky pieces of resin. We can now find these creatures in all their beauty within the golden beads of Baltic amber.

This specimen is one such demonstration of the fascinating fossilization process! It is a one-of-a-kind piece of amber that dates from 40,000,00 to 60,000,000-years-old all the way back to the Eocene. The amber piece contains an insect or arachnid from this period trapped within, which is visible with brilliant detail.

The material comes from deposits around the Baltic Sea, which is known to scientists as the greatest repository of fossil insects ever discovered.

This is one of the most visually unique and exciting fossils in our collection—just don't use it to clone any dinosaurs.

This specimen is a unique amber bead with an insect trapped within. Our showcase amber pieces are photographed individually by size and each is a one-of-a-kind treasure.

The specimen is enclosed in a handsome, glass-topped riker box case measuring 4 1/2" x 3 1/2". A small information card which serves as certificate of authenticity is also included.

You can see all available amber specimens in the collection below! Small, Medium, and Large sized amber pieces are also available.

Amber is a unique fossil substance that shines with a golden hue. For millennia it has been an object of interest to many cultures and some pieces are especially interesting due to the prehistoric creatures captured within. The story of these nuggets of time all begins millions of years ago with an insect and a tree.

When a plant is damaged by a hungry bug, it secretes a substance called resin to activate its defense system. Resin is a viscous material produced by plants, primarily from conifers, that is both sticky and smelly (some might say fragrant). This scent lures the insect towards it, where it can quickly become trapped in the resin. In essence, it is an ancient and organic flypaper.

The tackiness of resin comes from carboxylic acids which make up the bulk of its mass. Hydrocarbon compounds known as terpenes provide the fragrance. Together, these organic compounds create the perfect bug-catching defense for trees. In fact, if you've ever enjoyed the scent of a pine candle, you may be falling for the very same evolutionary trap!

When compressed and heated beneath layers of sediment for millions of years, tree resin undergoes a process of molecular polymerization. This changes the chemical structure of the resin, making it tougher and stony. The result is a low-density, amorphous solid known as amber.

When recovered, amber is often dull, reddish brown, or even gray. After polishing, amber practically glows. The original color of the resin is preserved in a beautiful yellow-orange, but the material becomes translucent, allowing you to see what's been captured inside. Thanks to the stickiness of the original material, small objects can be perfectly preserved during the fossilization process. These are called inclusions, and they range from dust and pollen to insects and even fossilized lizards!

The discovery of amber with animal inclusions is always an incredible find. While they can't exactly be used to clone dinosaurs, they tell us a lot about the anatomy of prehistoric insects and help us better understand their evolutionary paths. When you hold a bead of insect amber, you're looking through a portal to our planet's past.

The largest amber deposits in the world are located around the Baltic Sea. Amber from this region, referred to as Baltic amber, is considered the highest amber quality in the world. Baltic amber deposits date from the Eocene Period, some 40-60 million years ago. Scientists consider Baltic amber the greatest repository of fossilized insects from any age.