Scholars from the Universities of Granada and Cambridge, in partnership with the Catalan Government, have unearthed the most ancient samples of Baltic amber in the Iberian Peninsula. This luxurious substance, commonly employed in the crafting of jewelry, was imported more than 5,000 years ago, overturning prior estimates by approximately a thousand years. The discovery illuminates early trading systems, hinting at commercial links with the southern regions of France. This type of Baltic amber gained dominance over local amber varieties, indicative of its global allure. Credit: M. Murillo-Barroso
Scientists led by Mercedes Murillo-Barroso from the University of Granada, in cooperation with Marcos Martinón-Torres of the University of Cambridge and Araceli Martín Cólliga of the Catalan Government, have located the earliest fragments of Baltic amber in the Iberian Peninsula. This luxurious substance, renowned for its application in jewelry and other artistic crafts worldwide, has been confirmed to have been circulated over 5,000 years ago.
Murillo-Barroso stated that the investigation “enables us to affirm with certainty that Baltic amber made its appearance in the Iberian Peninsula no later than the 4th millennium BC, which is over a millennium sooner than previously assumed, and was likely part of broader trading systems associated with southern France.”
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The Import of Trading and Amber in Prehistoric Societies
Trade serves as a key vehicle for establishing social relations. Frequently, the items traded are not essential goods required for survival but are instead luxury or symbolic goods. Trade networks can sometimes act as a system of mutual support in challenging conditions. However, they can also create social imbalances and dependencies, particularly when access to these networks is not equitable or if the items traded hold different values.
In antiquity, amber, a fossilized resin, was not a crucial commodity for day-to-day living but held high esteem and was disseminated through elaborate trade systems.
Documentary evidence suggests that various amber deposits on the Iberian Peninsula have been in use since the Upper Palaeolithic period. Scholarly research has shown that starting from the 4th millennium BC, amber from Sicily began reaching the Iberian Peninsula via Mediterranean trade routes. Until this discovery, it was thought that Baltic amber became prominent on the Peninsula only by the 2nd millennium BC, replacing other variants like Peninsular or Sicilian amber.
Insights from the Cova del Frare Site
In an academic paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, Mercedes Murillo-Barroso remarked, “We conducted standard infrared spectroscopy analysis on a Baltic amber bead found at the Cova del Frare site, dated between 3634-3363 cal BC.”
Araceli Martín Cólliga, the excavation director at the site, elaborated, “The site is truly extraordinary and serves as a transitional link between the Middle Neolithic ‘Sepulcr’ and the Late Neolithic of Véraza.”
Murillo-Barroso added, “Absent any written records from these ancient times, our sole method for examining human activities is through archaeological remnants. We employ highly accurate analytical techniques, such as infrared spectroscopy, which afford us a unique ‘fingerprint’ of the amber deposits and artifacts.”
The study, corroborated by a plethora of data and analytical techniques alongside additional archaeological evidence, ascertains that Baltic amber reached northeastern Iberia as early as the Neolithic era. This suggests a transformative period in trade, influenced either by a waning ‘Sepulcres de Fossa’ culture or by emerging cultural trends set by the Véraza groups in Catalonia and southern France. There is no existing evidence to suggest that Baltic amber crossed the Ebro River into southern Iberia at such an early period, where Sicilian amber continued to dominate due to Mediterranean trade channels.
The International Appeal of Baltic Amber
The Baltic region produces perhaps the finest amber in the world, coveted for its application in jewelry. This type of amber was highly prized even in ancient Rome and currently sustains an entire industry, notably in Poland. The new evidence shows that it reached the Iberian Peninsula as early as the 4th millennium BC and eventually supplanted both Peninsular and Sicilian types.
“This discovery has significant ramifications for our comprehension of early trade systems involving exotic materials and their influence on societal structures,” notes Marcos Martinón-Torres, a professor at the University of Cambridge.
Reference: “The earliest Baltic amber in Western Europe” by M. Murillo-Barroso, A. Martín Cólliga, and M. Martinón-Torres, published on 31 August 2023 in Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41293-0
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Baltic amber discovery
What is the significance of the Baltic amber discovery in the Iberian Peninsula?
The discovery of the oldest Baltic amber samples in the Iberian Peninsula significantly revises our understanding of ancient trade networks and the timeline of amber importation. It shows that Baltic amber was being traded in this region over 5,000 years ago, a millennium earlier than previously thought.
Who were the institutions involved in this research?
The research was a collaborative effort involving the Universities of Granada and Cambridge, along with the Government of Catalonia.
Who led the research team?
The research was led by Mercedes Murillo-Barroso from the University of Granada, in cooperation with Marcos Martinón-Torres from the University of Cambridge and Araceli Martín Cólliga from the Government of Catalonia.
What methodologies were employed in the research?
The research team used standard infrared spectroscopy analysis to identify the Baltic amber found at the Cova del Frare site. This technique provided a unique “fingerprint” of the amber deposits and artifacts.
Where was the Baltic amber found?
The amber samples were found at the Cova del Frare archaeological site. The site serves as a transitional link between the Middle Neolithic ‘Sepulcr’ and the Late Neolithic of Véraza cultures.
What implications does this discovery have for our understanding of ancient trade?
The discovery suggests that Baltic amber was part of broader trading systems much earlier than previously believed, potentially linked to regions as far away as southern France. It adds a new layer to our understanding of ancient trade networks and their influence on societal structures.
Is there evidence of Baltic amber in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula?
There is currently no evidence to suggest that Baltic amber crossed the Ebro River into the southern parts of the Iberian Peninsula at such an early date. In southern Iberia, Sicilian amber continued to be predominant.
What does the discovery say about the global value of Baltic amber?
The finding confirms the high value and global desirability of Baltic amber, not only in contemporary times but also in antiquity. It shows that Baltic amber supplanted local variants like Peninsular and Sicilian amber as early as the 4th millennium BC.
When was the research published and where?
The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports on 31 August 2023.
What are the social implications of ancient trade networks based on this discovery?
The discovery highlights that ancient trade networks were not only about the exchange of essential goods but also involved luxury and symbolic objects like amber. These networks could serve as systems of mutual support but also had the potential to create social inequalities.
More about Baltic amber discovery
- Scientific Reports Journal Article
- University of Granada Research Department
- University of Cambridge Archaeology Division
- Government of Catalonia Cultural Heritage
- Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis Techniques
- History of Amber Trade in the Iberian Peninsula
- Neolithic Cultures in Southern France
- Amber Trade in Ancient Europe
- Social Implications of Ancient Trade Networks
6 comments
Mind blown. This totally reshapes how i see ancient cultures. They were way more connected than we give ’em credit for.
it’s crazy to think this amber was so prized back then. Was it like the ‘bitcoin’ of the ancient world or what? lol
So cool that amber can tell us so much about the past. Never really considered it more than just pretty jewelry, you know?
Honestly, kudos to the research team. Using infrared tech to analyze amber is next-level. I wonder how they even come up with these methods?
Incredible findings! But let’s not forget, this opens up questions about social inequality in trade back then. Worth a deeper look, I think.
Wow, this is game-changing stuff. Who woulda thought that Baltic amber got around like that 5000 yrs ago? Makes u think what else we don’t know about ancient trade.