Before metal, "fasteners" were organic: leather thongs, wooden pegs (tree nails), and intricate joinery like dovetails.
Nails (3500 BCE): The oldest known metal nails were found in Egypt and Mesopotamia, made of bronze or iron. These were hand-forged by blacksmiths, one by one.
The Screw Thread (400 BCE): The Greek philosopher Archytas of Tarentum is often credited with inventing the screw principle. Early screws weren't fasteners; they were massive wooden devices used in olive and grape presses to squeeze out oil and wine.
The Archimedes Screw (3rd Century BCE): Archimedes famously used the screw thread to create a pump that could lift water for irrigation.
