Ommatidae (Living Fossil Beetles) in Burmese Amber Burmese amber (Burmite), originating from the mid-Cretaceous period (approximately 99 million years ago) in the Hukawng Valley of northern Myanmar, is a world-renowned lagerstätte for Mesozoic life. Among its most evolutionarily significant treasures are inclusions of Ommatidae, an ancient family of beetles belonging to the primitive suborder Archostemata. Often described as "living fossils," Ommatidae possess some of the most ancestral features among all living beetles. While they are highly restricted to just a few relict species in Australia and South America today, Burmese amber proves that they were highly diverse, widespread, and ecologically successful during the age of the dinosaurs. Period: Cretaceous (100 million years old) Location: Hukawng Valley, Myanmar Size: Amber 17.3*10.5*3.7 mm