Abstract
The presence of “geological” amber (or “succin” in old French monographs) has been reported for several centuries in the Mesozoic deposits of Provence, southeastern France. Diverse amber-bearing sites were inventoried by the authors but their location and stratigraphical context remain unclear for most of them. In the past decades, various data concerning chemistry, palaeontological content and comparison with archaeological discoveries improved our knowledge of the ambers of Provence, but only those of Cretaceous age. The present paper aims at providing a comprehensive description of all the presently known amber-bearing deposits of Provence, including the description of new sites. We highlight the great potential of Provence ambers and allow to consider a wider time range, from the Early Cretaceous to the Miocene.
Highlights
The nature of amber – or “succin” in litt. – was the subject of diverse observations and theories in the first French dictionaries as early as the 17th century (Saint Martin and SaintMartin, 2020, this volume)
The oldest known ambers in Provence originate from Salignac (Aptian), and doubtfully that of Rustrel
The presence of amber between the upper Albian and the lower Cenomanian in Provence is to be compared with other amber deposits from France, in particular those of the southwest regions (Charentese ambers)
Summary
The nature of amber – or “succin” in litt. – was the subject of diverse observations and theories in the first French dictionaries as early as the 17th century In those dictionaries, the knowledge of amber is limited to that of the Baltic and the amber-bearing sites of France are not mentioned. The first mentions and/or the description of geographical sites providing amber in France date back from the middle of the 18th century (Anonymous, 1742; Daubenton, 1751; Lavoisier, 1765; Papon, 1776). In these works, the presence of amber in Provence is reported with somewhat imprecise. Other reports of amber are given through regional geological or stratigraphical studies (see below in the description of the deposits). Additional information concerns the main characteristics of the amber and their inclusions when data are available
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