It’s a sunny morning in Ain Dara, Lebanon. Paleontologist Dany Azar is on a mission to find ancient treasures in small pieces of amber. He searches through the rocky terrain, discovering shiny golden fragments that hold secrets from 130 million years ago.
Lebanon is a unique place where Azar can study a critical moment in Earth’s history. During the early Cretaceous period, the world was transitioning from a dominance of ferns and conifers to flowering plants. This ecological shift changed life on Earth forever, and Azar’s discoveries help shed light on this transformative period.
Azar is known as the ‘amber man’ for his findings of fossilized tree resin scattered across Lebanon. These amber pieces act as windows into the past, preserving insects and plant material from millions of years ago. By studying these treasures, Azar can reconstruct the dramatic changes that took place during the early Cretaceous.
One of Azar’s recent discoveries includes the oldest mosquito ever found in a piece of 130-million-year-old amber. This male mosquito had functional mouthparts to feed on blood, a behavior that is no longer seen in male mosquitoes today. The evolution of insects and plants during this period is captured in these amber inclusions, providing valuable insights into Earth’s history.
Despite the significance of his findings, Azar struggles to get Lebanon to appreciate and protect these paleontological treasures. He dreams of building a natural history museum to showcase his discoveries but faces challenges due to conflict and corruption in the country. Despite the obstacles, Azar remains hopeful that one day his work will be recognized and celebrated.
Azar’s dedication to uncovering the mysteries of Lebanon’s past is evident in his ongoing research and discoveries. Each piece of amber he collects tells a story of a bygone era, offering a glimpse into a world that existed millions of years ago. The golden globes he finds are not just rocks but valuable artifacts that hold the key to understanding Earth’s evolutionary history.
