Amber Road
The oldest trade in amber started from Sicily. Archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered Sicilian amber beads at Mycenae, proving the existence of early southern European connections. This trade was directed to Greece, North Africa and Spain before the Bronze Age decline around 2000 BC. After this period, Baltic amber gradually replaced Sicilian sources throughout the Iberian Peninsula from around 1000 BC. New evidence comes from various archaeological and geological locations on the Iberian Peninsula. The distribution of Sicilian amber is similar to that of ivory, suggesting it reached the Iberian Peninsula through contacts with North Africa.
From at least the 16th century BC, amber moved from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean area. The breast ornament of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen contains large Baltic amber beads. Spectroscopic investigation confirmed that Schliemann found Baltic amber beads at Mycenae. The quantity of amber in the Royal Hypogeum of Qatna, in Syria, is unparalleled among known second millennium BC sites in the Levant and the Ancient Near East. Amber was sent from the North Sea to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi as an offering. From the Black Sea, trade could continue to Asia along the Silk Road, another ancient trade route.
In Roman times, a main route ran south from the Baltic coast, which is modern Lithuania today. This path extended the entire north, south length of modern-day Poland, likely passing through the Iron Age settlement of Biskupin. It continued through the land of the Boii, now modern Czech Republic and Slovakia, to the head of the Adriatic Sea at Aquileia by the modern Gulf of Venice. As this road connected the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, Roman military fortifications were constructed along the route to protect merchants and traders from Germanic raids. Other commodities exported to the Romans included animal fur, skin, honey, and wax. These goods were exchanged for Roman glass, brass, gold, and non-ferrous metals such as tin and copper imported into the early Baltic region.
The shortest road avoided alpine areas and led from the Baltic coastline, now Lithuania and Poland, through Biskupin, Milicz, and Wrocław. It crossed the Danube near Carnuntum in the Noricum province before heading southwest past Poetovio, Celeia, Emona, and Nauportus. The route reached Patavium and Aquileia at the Adriatic coast. In Estonia, the old coastal Amber road runs north-south along the E67 highway from Reiu in Häädemeeste Parish of Pärnu County. Several roads connected the North Sea and Baltic Sea, especially the city of Hamburg to the Brenner Pass, proceeding southwards to Brindisi and Ambracia. A small section including Baarn, Barneveld, Amersfoort and Amerongen connected the North Sea with the Lower Rhine. Routes connected amber finding locations at Ambares near Bordeaux, leading to Béarn and the Pyrenees.
Dating from the 1st century BC, an amber deposit found in Partynice near Wrocław is the world's largest archaeological find of amber. This massive collection currently resides in the Archaeological Museum in Wrocław. The Old Prussian towns of Kaup and Truso on the Baltic were the starting points of the route to the south. In Scandinavia, the amber road probably gave rise to the thriving Nordic Bronze Age culture, bringing influences from the Mediterranean Sea to the northernmost countries of Europe. The quantity of amber in the Royal Hypogeum of Qatna remains unparalleled among known second millennium BC sites in the Levant and the Ancient Near East.
There is an unofficial set of tourist sites stretching along a route from Gdańsk, Poland to Pärnu, Estonia called the Amber Road. Notable sites include the Amber museum in Gdańsk and the Kaliningrad Regional Amber Museum. Visitors can explore the Mizgiris Amber Gallery-Museum in Nida, Lithuania or see the Amber Bay in Juodkrantė. The Samogitian Alka in Šventoji offers historical context alongside the Amber collection site in Karklė. EV9 The Amber Route is a long-distance cycling route between Gdańsk, Poland, and Pula, Croatia that follows the course of the historic path. In Poland, the north, south motorway A1 is officially named Amber Highway. The modern Baltic, Adriatic Corridor connects the two seas along routes that roughly follow the ancient trade lines.
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Common questions
Where did the oldest trade in amber start?
The oldest trade in amber started from Sicily. Archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered Sicilian amber beads at Mycenae, proving early southern European connections existed before the Bronze Age decline around 2000 BC.
When did Baltic amber replace Sicilian sources on the Iberian Peninsula?
Baltic amber gradually replaced Sicilian sources throughout the Iberian Peninsula from around 1000 BC. New evidence comes from various archaeological and geological locations on the Iberian Peninsula showing this shift after the Bronze Age period.
Which Roman route connected the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea?
A main route ran south from the Baltic coast which is modern Lithuania today through Poland and the land of the Boii to Aquileia by the Gulf of Venice. Roman military fortifications were constructed along this path to protect merchants from Germanic raids during Roman times.
What is the largest archaeological find of amber dating from the 1st century BC?
An amber deposit found in Partynice near Wrocław dates from the 1st century BC and is the world's largest archaeological find of amber. This massive collection currently resides in the Archaeological Museum in Wrocław.
Where does the unofficial Amber Road tourist route stretch between?
The unofficial set of tourist sites stretches along a route from Gdańsk, Poland to Pärnu, Estonia called the Amber Road. Notable sites include the Amber museum in Gdańsk and the Kaliningrad Regional Amber Museum.