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The life hidden in this piece of amber: How to capture the moment of an ancient creature?
When we mention amber, many people will first think of its golden appearance and its beauty as an ornament. Then, how many people know that in these beautiful amber, there are actually moments of life billions of years ago? Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, comes from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. These ambers are about 100 million years old and are from the early to late mid-Cretaceous period. The animal and plant fossils they contain have amazed scientists and triggered a lot of controversy.
Geological background and environment of Myanmar amber
Burmese amber mainly occurs in the Hukawng Basin, which is a large Cretaceous to Cenozoic sedimentary basin. These sediments underwent geological changes such as folding and faulting, forming the amber deposits we see today. The resin of amber comes from the tropical rain forest at that time, which was located near the coast. The resin was then transported to the shallow sea environment and deposited.
This forest is home to a variety of organisms, including plants, insects, reptiles and amphibians, which are important sources of information for our paleontological research.
Diversity of paleontology
Research shows that more than 2,800 species of animal and plant fossils have been found in amber. Among them, insects are particularly numerous, accounting for almost all recognized species. Thrash flying insects, praying mantises, and the oldest ticks are all precious treasures for scientists in their pursuit of knowledge.
Annotations of organisms and paleoenvironment
Using amber, scientists reconstructed the ecosystem at that time: a vibrant tropical rainforest. The marine life in amber, such as small crabs, sea clams and even ancient loons, shows that this place also faced the invasion of sea water. Some plant remains after the fire show that this forest also suffered from burning.
The history and current controversies of research and development
Research on Burmese amber is receiving increasing attention, but it is also accompanied by many controversies, such as the impact of the amber trade on local conflicts. In 2017, the Myanmar military took over the amber mines, triggering a strong reaction from the academic community. Several scientific journals have issued statements that they will no longer accept amber data from current mining areas, and even require certification of past sources. This move triggered deep thoughts on conservation paleontology research.
Academics are now faced with two extreme views: one side worries about funding conflicts, and the other side believes that banning the publication of data will cause great harm to paleontology.
Amber’s ancient hiddenness and future prospects
These ancient ambers are not only witnesses of humankind’s past, but also treasures for future scientific exploration. Through modern technology, scientists hope to extract more cellular and genetic data from amber to further understand the biological history of our planet. However, as global demand for energy and mineral resources rises, amber's future also faces new challenges. The balance between the improvement of the mining environment and ecological protection will be a major issue in the future.
Can we find the perfect balance between scientific research and sustainable trade in this historic amber?
