The oldest known strand of spider silk has been found, preserved in Lebanese amber.It dates from the Early Cretaceous Period, more than 120 million years ago. This means it comes from about 80-90 million years further back in time than the previous oldest reported spider thread, found in Baltic amber. The specimen is described in the journal Nature by Swiss researcher Dr Samuel Zschokke, from the University of Basel. Small globules of glue that would have stuck down any insect unlucky to get caught up in the silk are still clearly visible on the thread. Amber is a form of protective resin extruded from trees that has hardened over millions of years. It is very useful to scientists studying the history of past life because ancient animals and plants are often preserved in the gem-like material. This is particularly true of arthropods like insects and spiders. The oldest known spider found in a piece of amber was unearthed on the Isle of Wight in the UK recently. But the 125-million-year-old creature, Cremygale chasei, is by no means the earliest in the fossil record. There are specimens that date from the Devonian (350-420 million years ago) - long before even the dinosaurs.
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