Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Sunday, July 20, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    Fossils Of Ancient Life Discovered In Akkar
    @akkartrail
    2 Mins Read

    Fossil Insects Over 120 Million Years Old Were Just Discovered In Lebanon

    By Hussein YassineFebruary 26, 2021Updated:February 26, 2021
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    A new amber outcrop containing fossils dating back more than 120 million years has been discovered in northern Lebanon.

    The discovery was detailed in a paper published on Friday morning in the Palaeoentomology scientific journal by Dr. Sibelle Maksoud, Dr. Dany Azar, and Khaled Taleb.

    Amber is fossilized tree resin that sometimes contains well-preserved biological inclusions, such as animal and plant material, dating back millions of years.

    The new outcrop was found in a sand quarry in the village of Mechmech, in the Akkar District of North Lebanon, where relatively large pieces of yellow, transparent amber pieces were collected.

    According to the paper, 4 fossil insects – 2 opposite-sex flies of the same species, a cockroach larva, and a wasp – were found in the amber fragments that originate from a single amber pebble.

    The male fly (A) and the wasp (B) that were discovered in the amber outcrop in Mechmech, Akkar, North Lebanon.
    The male fly (A) and the wasp (B).

    The outcrop dates back to the Barremian (approximately 129 million years – 125 million years ago) and is chemically similar to previously discovered Lebanese ambers of similar age.

    Notably, the specimen containing the female fly was found divided into 2 parts as a result of being naturally stretched.

    The stretching, the paper hypothesizes, is probably the result of a forest fire that melted the resin. The presence of soot and wood fragments in the stretched specimen and in other specimens supports this hypothesis.

    The female fly that was discovered in the amber outcrop in Mechmech, Akkar, North Lebanon.
    The female fly.

    It’s also worth noting that this outcrop is “the most septentrional outcrop with fossil biological inclusions like insects,” Dr. Dany Azar tells The961.

    “We have already discovered 24 other outcrops with biological inclusions distributed all over Lebanon,” explains the Lebanese University professor, who heads the International Palaeontomological Society and the Palaeontological and Evolutive Lebanese Association.

    So far, 450 amber outcrops have been discovered in Lebanon, of which only 25 gave biological inclusions, according to Dr. Azar.

    The larva that was discovered in the amber outcrop in Mechmech, Akkar, North Lebanon.
    The larva.

    In light of the discovery, the paper highlights the necessity of the urgent protection of the Mechmech site by the Lebanese authorities, noting that a failure to do so could easily result in the disappearance of the volatile site and its treasures.

    *The images used in this article belong to Akkar Trail.

    Lebanon
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Lebanese talking-stage

    15 Things Your Lebanese Talking-Stage Will Tell You, And What It Actually Means

    Joe Issa El-Khoury 961

    Who is Joe Issa El-Khoury, Lebanon’s New Minister of Industry

    Adel Nassar 961

    Who is Adel Nassar, Lebanon’s New Minister of Justice

    Nizar Hani 961

    Who is Nizar Hani, Lebanon’s New Minister of Agriculture

    shark tank Lebanon

    Shark Tank Is Officially Coming To Lebanon – Here’s How You Can Get A Chance To Pitch Your Idea

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025

    This Lebanese Descendant Has His Eyes on the Haitian Presidency

    December 13, 2019

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019

    20 Typical Lebanese Slang Expressions

    April 21, 2020

    How Mia Khalifa Became One Of The Most Outspoken Advocates For Lebanon

    August 13, 2020
    Lebanese boutiques

    25 Boutiques In Lebanon To Find Your Dream Evening Dress This Wedding Season

    June 9, 2024
    Fitness Lebanon

    15 Top Gyms in Lebanon for Every Workout Style

    November 2, 2023
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.