Synopses & Reviews
Amber has captured the human imagination for centuries, as amulets, ritual cups, and beads dating back 10,000 years attest. It is a fascinating substance, one that offers a unique intersection of the fields of paleontology, botany, entomology, and mineralogy. The fossilized resin of ancient trees, amber preserves organic material--most commonly insects and other invertebrates--and with it the shape and surface detail that are usually obliterated or hopelessly distorted during the mineralization we associate with fossils. To look at an ant or a bee caught in amber is to look not at an organism that has been turned to stone, but at the actual remains of an insect that lived hundreds of millions of years ago, remains that retain an uncanny semblance of life. Amber also offers clues to the evolution of certain behaviors, capturing such interactions as parasitism--a fruit fly with a parasitic mite still attached to it--or mutualism--a bubble of gas indicating the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut of a termite.
Unique to this book are identification keys to the most common insect inclusions as well as practical advice on how to identify all-too-common fakes. Amber will bring the study of this and its inclusions within reach of anyone with access to amber and a good magnifying glass.
Review
Among the most unusual substances on Earth, amber combines alluring physical properties with an unparalleled archive of ancient life on our planet. No other substance brings together such richness in art and science. Ross's book fills a niche left vacant by other recent books on the subject. Where other authors have concentrated on the history of amber's use for decorative objects and adornment, Ross's book has more practical value for amateur naturalists. How do you tell fakes? How do you identify inclusions? This book should appeal to hobbyists, museum-goers, and anyone with a serious interest in amber. David A. Grimaldi, American Museum of Natural History
Review
Andrew Ross discusses the decorative uses of the burnt-orange translucent resin and gives handy instructions on the (surprisingly simple) methods of telling the genuine article from the fake; he goes on to expound on amber's scientific value, showing how it can provide a superb record of species and habitats that vanished millions of years ago. New Yorker
Review
Amber is a fascinating substance that has been captured in beads, necklaces and carvings for centuries...[This book] is a substantial reference for collectors and dealers seeking to identify true amber and its inclusions. Antique Trader
Synopsis
The fossilized resin of ancient trees, amber preserves organic material--most commonly insects and other invertebrates--and with it the shape and surface detail that are usually obliterated or hopelessly distorted during the mineralization we associate with fossils. This fascinating substance offers a unique intersection of the fields of paleontology, botany, entomology, and mineralogy.
About the Author
Andrew Ross is Principal Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeobotany at the National Museums Scotland.
National Museums Scotland
Table of Contents
What Is Amber?
The Properties of Amber
Fake Amber
The Uses of Amber
Where Is Amber Found?
Baltic Amber
Dominican Amber
What Is a Species?
Amber Inclusions
Animal Interactions
Plant Inclusions
The Search for DNA
Biogeography
Arthropods
Key to Arthropods
The Insect Fossil Record
Insects
Key to Insects without Wings
Incomplete Metamorphosis
Key to Winged Insects I
Incomplete Metamorphosis--Bugs
Key to Bugs
Complete Metamorphosis
Key to Winged Insects II
Complete Metamorphosis--Flies
Key to Flies
Wasps, Bees, and Ants
Key to Wasps, Bees and Ants
Beetles
Key to Selected Beetles
Glossary
Index
Further Reading and Credits