First Antarctic Amber Discovery Reveals Ancient Rainforest

Scientists uncover amber in Antarctica, shedding light on a conifer-rich rainforest that thrived near the South Pole 90 million years ago.

The amber was found in a sediment core from Pine Island Bay in the Amundsen Sea, marking the southernmost discovery of amber in the world.
The discovery provides new insights into the mid-Cretaceous period, indicating that Antarctica once hosted a swampy, temperate rainforest environment.
Amber fragments suggest the presence of resin-producing trees, similar to those found in New Zealand and Patagonia today, that survived harsh conditions and long periods of darkness.
Researchers aim to understand more about the ancient ecosystem, including whether it experienced wildfires or contained traces of life within the amber.
The quality of the amber indicates it was preserved near the surface, protected from thermal stress and oxidation by high water levels.