May 14, 2024

Amber is not just a beautiful and fascinating material; it is also nature's own time capsule, offering a glimpse into a world that existed long ago. At the Museum of Evolution in Knuthenborg, visitors can now marvel at authentic prehistoric insects and feathers from Cretaceous dinosaurs preserved in five extraordinary pieces of amber. This exhibition transports us 98 million years into the past.

At first glance, these may look like any other pieces of amber. But the five specimens in the museum's new display case are unique time capsules, each containing perfectly preserved fragments of life as it was 98 million years ago.

Inside these golden drops of fossilized resin are genuine prehistoric insects and feathers from dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period. The amber comes from resin produced by evergreen trees in the Araucariaceae family and offers an extraordinary glimpse into an era when feathered dinosaurs roamed vast tropical rainforests. Occasionally, a dinosaur feather or insect became trapped in resin, preserving it forever in its natural encasement.

Many may recall the premise of Jurassic Park, which envisioned reviving dinosaurs using DNA extracted from amber. However, this remains highly improbable. The oldest DNA successfully extracted to date is about 2 million years old, making the discovery of dinosaur DNA virtually impossible.

"It's Actually Quite Moving"

Director Christoffer Knuth is thrilled about the acquisition of these amber pieces, now on display for visitors at the Museum of Evolution:

"Reading about how the world looked millions of years ago is undoubtedly fascinating in itself. But seeing such tangible evidence of feathered dinosaurs and the insects that buzzed around nearly 100 million years ago is something entirely different. When you let it sink in—what you're actually looking at—it’s genuinely moving. At least, it is for me, and I believe our visitors will feel the same!"

More Fascinating News at the Museum of Evolution

The amber is not the only exciting addition to the Museum of Evolution. In March, the museum unveiled 15 exceptionally well-preserved dinosaur footprints, exhibited in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

In April, the museum introduced 15 fossilized dinosaur droppings, or "coprolites," which have undergone CT scanning and are now also on display. These coprolites hold the potential to reveal new insights into dinosaur health and the complexity of the ecosystems they inhabited.