TIL From 1600-400 BC, the Mesoamerican Olmec civilization was using and processing bitumen (asphalt) and may have used it like currency.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278416508000147

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/150kvh2/til_from_1600400_bc_the_mesoamerican_olmec/