History of the Amber Roads
Already 3500 years ago amber was one of the most sought-after trade goods in Europe, next to tin, furs and salt. There are many indications for an extensive long-distance trade with amber. Many rich gold findings in Northern Europe (Denmark, Germany etc.) and many amber findings from the Bronze Age in Southern Europe indicate that amber was the raw material of the North, which was used as a barter commodity for gold. Chemical analyses have clearly determined the amber finds in Southern Europe as succinite (i.e. amber from the North or Baltic Sea area). Amber was then used as a currency to trade bronze and gold. Archaeologists have for example studied an extensive amber deposit in Mycenae, which includes thousands of amber objects. Gisela Graichen and Alexander Hesse describe in the very exciting, captivating book "Die Bernsteinstrasse" (page 67) how amber was transported from the Baltic Sea coast to Mycenae and further to the kingdom of Quatna in today's Syria and up to the pharaohs in Egypt.
Since ancient times there have been several amber trade routes. The western amber route leads from the North Sea along the Meuse or the Rhine, further along the Saone and Rhone to the Mediterranean Sea near Marseille. It is also called the Etruscan route.
In Roman times the eastern amber road was used. It led from the area around Gdansk (Baltic Sea) to Carnuntum (Austria) and via Sopron (Hungary) to Shombathely (Hungary), then via Ljubljana (Slovenia) to Aquileia (Roman port city on the Adriatic Sea in Italy). Carnuntum was one of the most important transhipment points for amber in Roman times. The processing of the amber took place mainly in Aquileia. From there the whole Roman Empire was supplied with amber jewellery.
Interestingly enough, in almost all neighbouring countries along the eastern amber road (Roman route) initiatives, partly supported by the European Union, have formed to promote tourism.
Literature:
Andreas Bichl / Monika Griebl / Marcello La Speranza / Brigitte Reisinger, Erlebnis Archäologie. Carnuntum Vindobona Bernsteinstrasse. 2003, Pichler Verlag, Wien
Gisela Graichen / Alexander Hesse, Die Bernsteinstrasse. Verborgene Handelswege zwischen Ostsee und Nil. 2012, Rowohlt Verlag, Hamburg
Foto Banner: Sascha Lichtenstein