China team unearths world’s oldest amber, hidden in ancient Xinjiang coal seam

A 385‑million‑year‑old piece of amber—the oldest known on record—has been unearthed by a Chinese research team. The fossil resin, discovered in a coal seam beneath Xinjiang’s desert region, predates all previously documented amber specimens. Its age makes it older than any known land‑dwelling creature, overturning expectations of when resin production began.

Interesting Engineering highlighted that the amber’s ancient origin pushes back the plant evolutionary timeline, suggesting resin‑producing flora existed far earlier than assumed. Paleobotanists and geochemists worldwide will now examine the specimen to refine models of early terrestrial ecosystems. Further analysis is planned to identify any inclusions and to compare the resin’s chemistry with younger amber deposits.

The team intends to return to the Xinjiang site for additional sampling, which could extend the amber record even further.