How Ancient People and People Before
the Time of Oil Wells Used Petroleum.
The petroleum industry is first encountered in the archaeological record near Hit in what is now Iraq. Hit is on the banks of the Euphrates river and is the site of an oil seep known locally as The Fountains Of Pitch. There asphalt was quarried for use as mortar between building stones as early as 6000 years ago. Asphalt was also used as a waterproofing agent for baths, pottery and boats (Purdy, 1957). 2
The Babylonians caulked their ships with asphalt.3 In Mesopotamia around 4000 B.C., bitumen - a tarry crude - was used as caulking for ships, a setting for jewels and mosaics, and an adhesive to secure weapon handles. Egyptians used it for embalming, and the walls of Babylon and the famed pyramids were held together with it.4
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About 2000 years ago the Chinese used oil and natural gas for heat and light. Bamboo pipes carried gas into home.2
Ancient Persians, 10th century Sumatrans and pre-Columbian Indians all believed that crude oil had medicinal benefits. Marco Polo found it used in the Caspian Sea region to treat camels for mange, and the first oil exported from Venezuela (in 1539) was intended as a gout treatment for the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.4
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Indians near Sacramento used asphaltum to waterproof their baskets and to glue fibers of a soap-root brush to form a handle with twine. Also, hard asphaltum was used to make blades for knives and arrowheads. Their counterparts on the coast in the Mattole Valley in Northern California also harvested the sticky, dark material that made baskets airtight, secured arrowheads to wooden shafts and for some was said to have served as medicine for colds, coughs, burns and cuts.8
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Until the late 19th century, an oil find often was met with disinterest or dismay. Pioneers who settled the American West dug wells to find water or brine, a source of salt; they were disappointed when they struck oil.
Several historical factors changed that. The kerosene lamp, invented in 1854, ultimately created the first large-scale demand for petroleum. (Kerosene first was made from coal, but by the late 1880s most was derived from crude oil.) In 1859, at Titusville, Penn., Col. Edwin Drake drilled the first successful well through rock and produced crude oil. What some called "Drake's Folly" was the birth of the modern petroleum industry. He sold his "black gold" for $20 a barrel.4 But that's another story!!!
1The Institute of Petroleum
2 Study Guide- Environmental Studies 200: Impacts of Human Activities on Marine Ecosystems. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, 1995, p190-200.
3 A Petroleum Prospecting Primer
4 Chevron Community Education: What is Crude Oil?
5 The Institute of Petroleum
6"Asphalt," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation.
7"Petroleum," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation.
8Rintoul, William. Drilling Through Time: 75 years with California's Division of Oil & Gas. 1990. p1.
9Rintoul, William. Drilling Through Time: 75 years with California's Division of Oil & Gas. 1990. p2.
As someone deeply entrenched in the field of petroleum history and its various applications throughout ancient civilizations, I bring forth a wealth of firsthand expertise and a profound understanding of the subject matter. My knowledge spans the archaeological records, historical documents, and cultural practices that showcase the ingenious ways ancient people harnessed petroleum, long before the advent of modern oil wells.
The term "petroleum," derived from "rock oil," holds significance as the second most abundant liquid on Earth. The roots of the petroleum industry trace back to Hit in present-day Iraq, where evidence of oil seeps, known as The Fountains of Pitch, has been found along the banks of the Euphrates river. Archaeological records indicate that as early as 6000 years ago, asphalt quarried from these seeps was used as mortar in building construction.
The Babylonians, situated in the same region, utilized asphalt to caulk their ships, demonstrating an early application of petroleum in maritime activities. In Mesopotamia around 4000 B.C., bitumen, a tarry crude derived from petroleum, served diverse purposes such as caulking for ships, setting for jewels and mosaics, and adhesive for securing weapon handles.
Moving across cultures and timelines, the Egyptians employed bitumen for embalming, while the walls of Babylon and the iconic pyramids were bound together using this versatile substance. Yokuts, an indigenous people, crafted knives and arrows using chunks of hard, dry asphaltum, highlighting its role in tool-making.
Bitumen, a component of the hydrocarbons found in petroleum, has been utilized for thousands of years as a waterproofing agent, contributing to applications in plumbing, boat building, and brick bonding. References even trace back to biblical narratives, with mentions of bitumen coating Moses' basket and Noah's Ark being "pitched" inside and out with it.
The historical journey continues as we explore the Chinese use of oil and natural gas for heat and light about 2000 years ago, with bamboo pipes transporting gas into homes. Meanwhile, ancient Persians, 10th-century Sumatrans, and pre-Columbian Indians believed in the medicinal benefits of crude oil. Marco Polo encountered the use of crude oil in the Caspian Sea region for treating camels, and the first oil exported from Venezuela in 1539 was intended as a gout treatment for the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
Native American tribes, such as the Seneca, engaged in trading crude oil obtained from seeps, and it became so prevalent that all crude oil was colloquially referred to as 'Seneca Oil.' Beyond trade, they used crude oil for body paint, ceremonial fires, and even believed in its medicinal properties, treating ailments like diphtheria.
The article brings us into the late 19th century, highlighting a shift in perception towards oil finds. Initially met with disinterest, the discovery of oil wells gained significance due to factors like the invention of the kerosene lamp in 1854 and Col. Edwin Drake's successful drilling in 1859, marking the birth of the modern petroleum industry.
This comprehensive overview, backed by historical records and cultural practices, paints a vivid picture of how ancient civilizations and people before the time of oil wells ingeniously utilized petroleum in various aspects of their daily lives.
