Who started using clay first?

The earliest known use of clay dates back to prehistoric times, with evidence suggesting that Neolithic cultures in regions like the Near East were among the first to utilize it for pottery around 29,000 BCE. The use of clay for making figurines and cooking vessels likely emerged as humans transitioned to settled agricultural lifestyles. Additionally, ancient civilizations such as the Sumerians in Mesopotamia further advanced the use of clay for writing with cuneiform on clay tablets.