'Fossil-Fuels' important in the Middle-East some millennia ago

[Timo]

Ancient egyptians could've traded for crude-oil over vast trade routes. This article explains the connection and how they found it out. The ancient Egyptian's vauled their rest in the afterlife more than any earthly price. Crude-Oil is used to eventually make tar, and tar was a chief component in the Mummification process. These mummies helped unravel the mystery (pardon the pun) on the use and trade of fossil-fuels in ancient times, and they were compared and found to have been traded over vast distances - something which would've been dangerous (for the caravan) and expensive (for the buyer). I found it interesting that even in ancients relied somewhat on the fossil-fuels which in modern times they are so economically dependent on - the only cause of wealth and a major cause of war in the region. I would like to know exactly the pumping process for this crude-oil would've been or how it was first discovered, and how it was figured out to put to use. I found this article quite interesting.

Enjoy!


[Discovery Article]