Thread by @DamnResearch

1/ Following on from our thread about amber fossils yday, I thought we'd take a look at how prehistoric people used amber today!

This spectacular bear carving from Słupsk, Poland, dates back to the Neolithic, somewhere between 4000-7000 BP.

(Source: muzeum.szczecin.pl/en/collections…)

2/ Early evidence for human use of amber comes from the famous Altamira Cave in Spain. In a Solutrean layer, dated 17-22kya, several pieces of unworked amber were found.

This may have been intended for jewelry, or for medicine - amber has antibiotic properties.

(D.Descouens)

3/ Possibly the oldest piece of worked amber (discovered so far) is this delightful little moose figurine! It dates back c.13,700 BP & was found in a ploughed field in Germany. It might have been attached to the top of a wooden staff.

(U. Bohnhorst)

4/ Only slightly younger (12-13,000 BP) is this amulet. It's difficult to make out, due to damage but it once had a simple horse engraved into it. This was also found in Germany, near Hamburg-Meiendorf.

(R. Frenken & unknown)

5/ Amber use in Europe really seems to have picked up during the Mesolithic. Many of the most enigmatic finds from this period have come from Denmark; including this bear...

(A.Truong)

6/ ...& this birb (probably a goose).

Some of these figures have very faint grooves around the necks, suggesting they may have been tied to a necklace.

(NatMus Denmark)

7/ There's also plenty of amber pendants & amulets from this period. Many have abstract patterns carved into them.

(NatMus Denmark)

8/ Although 1 or 2 are even more ornate...like this stylised animal pendant! Possibly depiciting a female moose. This piece might actually rival some of the oldest worked amber in age.

9/ These amber animals washed up on the Danish coast. They come from submerged settlements that were flooded at the end of the last Ice Age.

10/ An amber "Venus" pendant from Eastern Europe, c.10,000 BP.

11/ Other anthropomorphic amber can be found as we move into the Neolithic. These, somewhat eerie, figures were found in Lithaunia. They are part of what is known as "Juodkrante's Treasure", you can read more about them here: ambergallery.lt/en/juodkrantes…

12/ Amber bead-making explodes in the Neolithic. Here you can see a selection of the wide array of designs that were created. Included single & double-headed axes. These may have been worn as part of a necklace or sewn onto clothing for decoration.

(NatMus Denmark)

13/ Finally, I'll leave you with this exquisitely preserved amber necklace from Bronze Age Britain. Found in a cist (type of grave) in Manchester, it dates to c.4000 BP. This would have a been a high status object at the time. #prehistoricart