The history of ceramics dates back thousands of years to early civilizations in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Mesoamerica. Some of the oldest examples of pottery were discovered in China, dating back over 20,000 years. It is thought that early humans developed pottery as a more convenient way to cook food and store grain.
More recently, ceramics have been used for utilitarian purposes and decoration. Pottery made it possible for people to safely store grain over long periods while also serving as plates or bowls for dishes and meals. This allowed other crafts, such as weaving, to become more important since people could now store their wares without worrying about spoilage.
Today it is still used for utilitarian purposes. However, its use has become wider, with many cultures creating art pieces collected from clay for their beauty rather than their practicality. Throughout human history, there have been numerous ceramic technology innovations, from glazing techniques to new ways of forming clay into intricate shapes.