Diamonds were known probably as early as 2500 BCE in China, while carbon in the form of charcoal was made around Roman times by the same chemistry as it is today, by heating wood in a pyramid covered with clay to exclude air.
Diamanter har muligvis været kendt siden 2500 f.Kr. i Kina, mens carbon i form af trækul blev skabt i romertiden ved den samme kemi som det gøres i dag: ved at ophede træ i en pyramide dækket af ler for at lukke luft ude.