Romanian Woman Discovers Valuable Amber After Decades of Using It as a Doorstop
A Romanian woman unwittingly used a 3.5-kilogram piece of amber as a doorstop for many years, unaware of its true value. She initially found the stone in a stream in southeastern Romania, only to learn later that it is one of the largest intact pieces of amber ever discovered, valued at approximately $1.1 million.
Romanian authorities have since transferred the precious piece to specialists at the Historical Museum in Krakow, Poland, which houses a dedicated section for the study of semi-precious stones.
Polish experts quickly verified the authenticity of the amber and estimated its age to be between 38.5 and 70 million years old.
Daniel Costache, director of the Buzau Provincial Museum, where the amber is currently displayed, emphasized its significance: “Its discovery holds great importance both scientifically and on a museum level,” he stated, describing its value as incalculable. Costache also noted that it is not only one of the largest pieces in the world but also the largest of its kind.
