Denmark is home to several artistic masterpieces from the Mesolithic period, including five amber bears, a bird, and a moose. These amber figures display an elegant and natural form, indicating that the creators possessed a good understanding of what real animals like bears looked like. Like many other Stone Age amber artifacts, these animal figures were discovered in swamps or on beaches, making their dating challenging. In some cases, Stone Age people adorned their objects with intricate ornaments or geometric designs. To determine the age of decorated amber objects, they are often dated in association with other items from the Mesolithic era, typically bones.
Some of the amber bears were found on the west coast of Fannö, while others were discovered on Lild Strand in northern Jutland. But how did these small Mesolithic works of art end up on the beach and come to light by chance?
In the Stone Age, the coastline was different from what it is today. Over time, changes in sea levels and land elevation, particularly since the last ice age, have altered the shoreline. This ongoing land uplift continues to shape the landscape. North of a specific line on the map, the land has risen, while to the south, the coastline has been submerged due to rising sea levels. As a result, some Stone Age settlements located south of this "slope line" are now underwater or along the shoreline. This geographical transformation can cause objects to be washed into the sea and later found on the beach.
These small amber animal figurines are not only beautiful and decorative but also serve practical purposes. Faint grooves on the necks of the amber bears suggest that they were worn as pendants or amulets, likely suspended from a string. The bear has always held significance for hunters in the northern hemisphere, perhaps due to its perceived human-like qualities. Many hunting societies believe in a special kinship between humans and various animals, and such a bond may have existed between Stone Age hunters and bears. It is reasonable to assume that the figurines of the bird and moose served a similar function as protective amulets.