The earliest Baltic amber in Western Europe

Area of Science:

• Archaeology
• Material Science
• European Prehistory

Background:

• Baltic amber in Europe is often linked to the Bell Beaker culture (3rd millennium BC).
• Amber's presence in Iberia is particularly noted in the southern regions.
• Previous understanding suggested amber trade routes emerged later in prehistory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the origins and timeline of Baltic amber's presence in Western Europe.
• To challenge the traditional association of amber trade with the Bell Beaker phenomenon.
• To understand the implications of early exotic material exchange networks.

Main Methods:

• Excavation of a Late Neolithic funerary cave in northeastern Iberia.
• Analysis of an amber bead using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
• Comparison of FTIR spectra with Baltic succinite reference samples.

Main Results:

• An amber bead was recovered from a Late Neolithic context (3634-3363 cal BC).
• FTIR analysis confirmed the bead's origin as Baltic succinite.
• This represents the earliest evidence of Baltic amber in the Mediterranean and Western Europe.

Conclusions:

• Baltic amber reached Iberia over a millennium earlier than previously believed.
• The findings necessitate a re-evaluation of early European exchange networks and social structures.
• This discovery predates the established Bell Beaker phenomenon, indicating earlier long-distance trade.