The oldest known lamps date back to the Neolithic Age. At that time, people dug a hole in the wall of a semi-buried house and lit it with a twister made of a plant for lighting. In addition, early lamps may have evolved from vessels such as pottery beans, in which people held oil and paired it with wicks to create lamps. As time goes by, the shapes and materials of lamps continue to evolve, and different types of lamps such as iron lamps, ceramic lamps, and bronze lamps have appeared.
It is worth noting that the names of lamps have also changed throughout history. During the Yin and Shang Dynasties, lamps were written as "stirups" and later evolved into "lamps". Therefore, in archaeological excavations, we may find some artifacts called " stirrups ", which are actually early lamps.
In summary, since the shapes and materials of lamps have changed throughout history, and archaeological finds can be affected by a variety of factors, it is difficult to determine which particular lamp is the "oldest." However, what is certain is that the history of lamps is closely connected with the development of human civilization and is the product of continuous innovation in the pursuit of light and progress.
