Amber exists for millions of years now. Before a scientific explanation was found, there were a lot of myths and sagas about the evolution of amber.

In a narration by Europides (480-407 BC), sun god Helios drove each day the chariot of the sun across the sky to give light and warmth to man, animals and plants. His son Paeton wanted to drive the chariot of the sun as well, but he was not allowed to. One day, it was his turn. Together with his sister Heliaderne, he harnessed the chariot and soared in the sky. Inexperienced as he was, he sometimes drove too close to Earth or too close to sky. One time as he drove too close to Earth again, everything on Earth dried out and was consumed by fire. Soon afterwards coldness and ice spread.
To rescue the Earth, Zeus casted a thunder at Paeton, who fell out of the chariot of the sun and into the river Eridanos, where he drowned. Heliaderne was transformed into a poplar as a punishment. She stood at the riverside and cried tears about her own fate and the fate of her brother. These tears turned to wonderful gold amber as they touched the water surface.

Nowadays we know that amber from the west coast has its origin in resin, which came into being 40-50 million years ago, when Denmark and England were attached to each other. With the passing of time, the ocean was stired up by storms and due to the fact that amber has a lower specific gravity than brine, amber was brought by the waves towards the shore.

Most amber that we find are of good quality and have the right size to work it into emblazoments for example. Nonetheless one may have bad luck and find a copal (semi-fossilized form of an amber). Copals cannot be processed, they can only be admired. A copal of the size of a handball can be looked at in the Nature Center Tønnisgård on Rømø.

In the winter half of the year, one has good chances to find amber on the beaches of the west coast. The best point of time is supposed to be the period after high water, when searching in the elapsing water. If you are really lucky, you may find an amber with an enclosed insect. These pieces are of course of a high value as only every 1000 piece has an insect or the like enclosed.

In the Nature Center Tønnisgård on Rømø, one can travel through time - back to 40 millions of years - and view several ambers that enclose midges. These midges equal the one’s that we know today.