A unique discovery has been made in southern Alberta: perfectly preserved dinosaur feathers.

The first prehistoric feathers were found perfectly preserved in amber uncovered in southern Alberta.

This marks the first time such a sample has been found — a real change for experts who are used to studying feathers fossilized in rock.

‘It’s a kind of preservation that can have a lot of detail, but in amber what you have essentially is the original feathers and they’re preserved in three dimensional detail,’ said Dr. Philip Currie, with the University of Alberta.

Currie said researchers at the University of Alberta will be able to study the feathers in more detail than before, since they are so well-preserved and can even see colour.