A Brief History of Charcoal
Charcoal’s history dates as far back as ancient humans, with evidence of its use in cave drawings. Charcoal has been used by cultures all across the world, some using it so differently that you couldn’t even recognize it. Charcoal has a wide variety of applications, ranging from outdoor grilling to medicinal treatments, and has applications throughout history in countless ways.
The earliest evidence of the use of charcoal is found in ancient cave paintings and artifacts. Ancient Egyptians used charcoal as a component of their medicine, and as early as 2400 BC, coal was already in use in China for cooking and heating. Greeks used charcoal for art and oil painting, and also for cleansing rituals. Charcoal was also used to fire pottery and in early smelting processes.
During the Middle Ages, charcoal was used in smelting and as fuel for heating. Charcoal was also a major component of black powder, used widely in military and mining related applications. As industry increased and science developed in the 17th century, the application and production of charcoal also increased. Charcoal was used as fuel to power early industrial processes, such as the Bessemer Process for steel production and in the production of dyes and other chemicals.
The 19th century saw the development of innovative charcoal products, such as briquettes. Briquettes were made from a mixture of charcoal, clay and other materials formed into a solid. They were easier to store and transport than traditional lump charcoal, and had a greater heat output per pound. They were used as a source of heat for outdoor cooking and portable fires.
The 20th century saw the incursion of alternative fuels, such as petroleum and natural gas, which began to replace charcoal as a cost-effective energy source. However, charcoal still has many uses in the culinary and medical field today, as well as certain industrial applications. Charcoal is still used as a natural filter in water filtration systems, to remove a variety of contaminants.
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in charcoal, both as a fuel and as a medium for making art and jewelry. Charcoal remains one of the oldest sources of energy and one of the most useful substances on Earth. As we look to the future, we can be certain that charcoal will remain a part of our lives and a major influence on our cultures.
