How was ink discovered?

Ink was discovered in ancient times when people sought ways to record information. Early forms of ink were made using natural materials, such as soot or charcoal mixed with water and other binding agents, like animal glue. The Chinese are credited with creating the first true ink around 2500 BC, using carbon black and other components. Over centuries, ink formulations evolved as different cultures experimented with various pigments and mediums to improve writing materials.