Amber is a form of tree resin, exuded as a protective mechanism against disease and insect infestation, that has hardened and been preserved in the earth's crust for millions of years. Often regarded as a gem, Amber is actually an organic substance whose structure has changed very little over time, unlike that of other fossilized material in which organic matter is replaced with minerals. Inclusions of plant matter, insects, and sometimes small animals gives scientists a snapshot of the environment during the time the resin hardened, helping them reconstruct the ecosystem of the past.

The world's largest Amber deposits come from the shores of the Baltic Sea, where Amber has been harvested, traded, and crafted into decorative objects for at least 13,000 years. The 400-square-mile Samland Peninsula alone has produced ninety percent of all the Amber in Europe. The pine trees that produced the resin to form into Amber are now long extinct.