Optical characterization of amber specimens from the unique collection of the Museum of the Earth of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw

Abstract

The paper presents examination methodology and results of identification tests and conservation treatments of amber specimens and prepared amber samples, selected from a large collection of the Museum of the Earth of Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. Particular attention has been paid to the use of noninvasive methods of topographic and material analyses. Optimized conservation treatment has been applied to consolidate, store and exhibit a set of archaeological amber beads from the National Archaeological Museum in Warsaw.