In the year of my birth, a mammal preserved in amber
was identified by scientists for the first time.
When they spoke of its age, the scientists broadly estimated 
18 million to 29 million years—referring, of course, to the age 
of the fossil itself. What I’m curious about is 
how long the tiny mammal lived, how much time was cut short 
when it fell indelibly into the resin. There’s simply 
no way to know. I know that in hindsight
its lifespan seems ludicrously insignificant.
An eon spent in amber turns the time before 
preservation into something like prehistory, 
like a half-life, or less.

– Leah Schwartz