According to an Ansa article, Olive Oil Fed 2000 B.C. Foundries, the earliest foundries were fueled not with charcoal, but with olive oil. The article says archaeologists believe this use of the oil preceded the recognition that olive oil was good for food.

Oldest Timbers

According to a UPI article, World's oldest ship timbers found in Egypt, remains of the world's oldest seafaring ship have been found in man-made caves in the desert, suggesting the Egyptians sailed to Punt, traveling "nearly 1,000 miles on rough waters." The wooden planks are about 4000 years old.