Amber stone is a miraculous work of nature, the beauty and mystery whereof attracted people even in ancient times. There are many songs and legends about amber; poets and scientists brought fame to it.

The history of Baltic amber stone that is still found and appreciated began over 50 million years ago. At that time massive conifer forests covered the territory of the present-day Baltic Sea and Scandinavia. The change of climate had an effect on temperature rise, which caused so-called 'amber trees' to start draining away big amounts of resin. This type of conifer trees disappeared 40 - 35 million years ago because the nutritious matter necessary for the growth of trees was consumed for an intensive resin formation. Consequently, the main period of resin exudation and formation of amber stones was the reason for disappearance of amber - producing pine trees.

Due to physical, chemical and microbiological processes in the conifer forest soil the resin underwent transformation. The amber under formation was washed out of the forest soil by rivers and transported to an Eocene sea basin and deltas. In the course of time the layer of amber was covered by delta sediments and survived until the present day.

There are different words for amber stone in many countries, which means that amber was known in various cultures. In Lithuanian AMBER is GINTARAS, in Latvian - DZINTARS, in Estonian - MEREVAIK, in Russian - YANTAR, in Polish - JANTAR, in German - BERNSTEIN, in French - AMBRE, in Greek - ELECTRON, in Hungarian - GYANTAR, in Spanish - AMBAR, in Japanese - ANBA, KOHAKU. SUCCINUM is a Latin word for amber.

There are two morphologic species of Baltic amber: interior lenses, which formed from initial resins in various parts of wood and bark, and superficial icicles, drops or trunk amber formed by outpouring of resins along the surface.

Resins were very fluid and solidified very quickly through evaporation. An insect or a spider caught by the sticky resin remained trapped for centuries. This is how inclusions were formed.

Usually Baltic amber is yellow or bright yellowish. Scientists count approximately 250 different colours and shades of amber. Due to its physical and chemical properties amber cannot be ascribed to minerals.

Until the end of the 17th century collecting of amber pieces washed ashore was enough to satisfy the needs for local use and trading. Amber excavation process was mechanized later. The methods of amber processing had a decisive influence upon the peculiarity of amber. Trade in amber adornments and other amber merchandise started as early as in Neolithic Age.

The processes under influence of which amber formed also had an effect on the resins not only of conifer but leaf-bearing trees too. Younger varieties of amber stones formed from resins of leaf-bearing trees. Amber of Dominican origin of 30 million years of age is the most famous.

Like all precious stones amber was the subject of falsification. There are tests to distinguish natural amber from imitations.

Providing that amber articles are taken proper care they will never lose their beauty, originality and value. Since ancient times amber and its preparations have been used in medicine. Less is known about the role of amber in astrology.