After learning that a family found a treasure while digging a well, the entire village rushed to make their fortune.
In September 2016, while digging a well, a family living in a small village in Rivne, Ukraine, unexpectedly discovered a large amount of amber beneath the ground. Upon hearing the news, villagers flocked to see the find.
They realized that amber could be exchanged for a significant amount of money, even though they were unaware of its uses or benefits. For many, this was the first time they had ever seen real amber.
Amber is a type of fossilized tree resin from ancient times, characterized by its yellow color resembling beeswax and valued for its medicinal properties and use in jewelry. Raw amber is sold by the kilogram, but once processed into jewelry or pharmaceutical products, its value can increase dramatically and is priced by the gram.
After a family found amber while digging a well, the entire village went treasure hunting. (Photo: Dailymail)
Upon hearing the news, the village suddenly became bustling with activity. Villagers of all ages grabbed shovels and picks to dig for amber. In just one day, some people earned around $300. Merchants also arrived on-site to buy amber, ready to pay anyone who found it on the spot. Wealthy individuals even hired excavators for faster digging.
However, the land was severely disturbed, with over 15 hectares of forest devastated due to excessive digging. The protective forests would take hundreds of years to recover. In response to this situation, local authorities were compelled to intervene and issued a ban on digging for amber that harms the environment.
