when was olive oil invented

Olive oil was not “invented” by one person; it emerged gradually in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean more than 6,000 years ago, with some of the earliest evidence pointing to present-day Syria and nearby regions. Archaeological evidence also suggests olive oil production was established by the Bronze Age, with surviving amphorae dating to around 3500 BC and production likely starting before 4000 BC.

Quick Scoop

• Origin: Ancient Eastern Mediterranean, especially the area of present-day Syria.

• Timeframe: More than 6,000 years ago, with strong evidence by around 4000–3500 BC.

• Inventor: No single inventor is known; it developed across early Mediterranean cultures.

What That Means

If you’re asking when people first started making olive oil, the safest answer is around 4000 BC or earlier , depending on how strictly you define “making” versus “using” it. If you’re asking when it became a major cultural product, that happened later as it spread through Greek, Phoenician, and Roman trade networks.

TL;DR: Olive oil is ancient, with origins over 6,000 years ago, and no single inventor is known.