Ancient Sumerians were the first civilization which started using bitumen in 4000 BC, they used it for different purposes such as sealing their boats and waterproofing towers and construction of buildings (e.g., The Darius Palace in Susa tower of Babel in Babylon) it was also exceptionally used for roadway coating (e.g., .the processional way of Babylon). However, there are claims that bitumen was in use even 5,000 years ago and before the Sumerians.