Jars whether glass, plastic or clay-made, have played significant roles in human history. Throughout eras, from the ancient clay jars to the modern glass jars, they have served storage, decorative and ceremonial purposes. In this article, we curated 12 unique historical facts about jars highlighting how they’ve served man across different periods and cultures.
Amazing Historical Facts About Jars
1. The Earliest Known Jars
The earliest known jars were the ancient Mesopotamian jars around 3,000 BC, which were made primarily from clay and used for storing oils, grains and other essential commodities. The development and evolution of these ancient Mesopotamian jars show a significant advancement in the storage and preservation of food.
2. The Earliest Mason Jars
“Crowleytown Jars” were known as the earliest mason jars, which were made from transparent aqua glass. These jars have straight sides, flat bases, and sharp base corners and were believed by collectors to have been first produced in Crowleytown, a village in New Jersey.
3. The Greek and Roman Amphorae
The amphorae are jars that became common from the Geometric period (900 BC) in Greece. Their designs often had decorations and inscriptions that indicated their contents and origin. The Greeks and Romans used amphorae, large ceramic jars with narrow necks and two handles to store and transport oil, wine, grains, and other food items. They were significant for trade and commerce.
4. The Patent of the Mason Jar
John Landis Mason patented the threaded screw-top jar on November 30, 1858, which became the iconic mason jar. The jars were intended to be water and airtight to enhance food preservation and home canning.
5. The Invention of Glass Jars
The first glass jars were produced around the 1st century during the Roman Empire. Glass containers were used to store precious items like perfumes and medicine which offer the advantage of seeing the content.
6. Egyptian Canopic Jars
The ancient Egyptians used canopic jars during the mummification process to preserve and store the viscera of deceased pharaohs and other important individuals for the afterlife. These jars held specific organs including the stomach, intestine, liver or lungs and were guarded by one of the Four Sons of Horus which reflected the Egyptians’ intricate burial practices.
7. The Invention of Plastic Jars
Plastic jars came into the spotlight in the early 20th century. The advent of plastic jars remodelled the production and use of jars in food storage and preservation due to their lightweight, durability and cost-effectiveness. They are considered alternative ceramic and glass containers.
8. The Most Popular Mason Jar Company
Jarden Home Brands Ball® Canning is known as the most popular mason jar company in the world. They started in 1884 and it is recorded that per second, they make 17 jars.
9. Jars Hold Cultural and Symbolic Significance
In many societies across the world, jars hold both cultural and symbolic relevance and as such, they are used for ceremonies to represent abundance and for rituals. This further proves and showcases the deep-rooted place of jars in human history.
10. Jars in World War II
Glass shortages led to the creative reuse of jars during World War II which included being used as vases, drinking glasses, lampshades, preserving food, and growing a home front garden. This was to help support the war effort and reduce reliance on commercial canned goods
11. The Earliest Glass Blowing
The earliest glass jars were hand-blown by skilled glassblowers. These jars were each unique though with imperfections.
12. The Colonial American Jars
Settlers in the colonial era of America used stoneware jars to store beverages, food and other items. The stoneware jars were durable and helped in preserving goods in harsh conditions.