Amber Tears of the Gods

Once a treasure more valuable than gold, amber has had a fascinating and turbulent history - a history that shaped the economies of the Baltic States. The mysterious qualities of amber have caused it to be collected, treasured, and admired since ancient times. Over thousands of years, many interesting theories have been advanced as to amber's origin and nature. For all its varieties, colors, and forms, every piece of amber originated as tree resin, fossilized over millions of years. Amber: Tears of the Gods is an extremely enjoyable introduction to this extraordinary substance, explaining exactly what amber is and where it came from. Author Neil Clark delves into the myths and legends which have contributed to the folklore of amber and takes the reader on a historical journey across the trade routes of Europe. He enlightens the reader to amber's many intriguing uses and ends by describing amber's surprising significance to modern science. As a beautifully illustrated and constructed survey, Amber: Tears of the Gods encompasses: 40 million year old forests, the palaces of European royal families, the strange and superstitious practices of the Scottish Highlands, and the modern palaeontologists' discoveries of insects new to science. This book is written for collectors, scientists, and those simply wishing to better understand and appreciate the wonderful artifacts and curiosities that have been created from the 'tears of the gods.'