In the ancient Near East, the Sumerians used natural bitumen deposits for mortar between bricks and stones, to cement parts of carvings, such as eyes, into place, for ship caulking, and for waterproofing.
ɪnðɪ ˈeɪntʃənt nˌɪɹ ˈiːst, ðə suːmˈɪɹiənz jˈuːzd nˈætʃɚɹəl bɪtˈuːmɛn dᵻpˈɑːzɪts fɔːɹ mˈɔːɹɾɚ bᵻtwˌiːn bɹˈɪks ænd stˈoʊnz, tə sᵻmˈɛnt pˈɑːɹts ʌv kˈɑːɹvɪŋz, sˈʌtʃ ɐz ˈaɪz, ˌɪntʊ plˈeɪs, fɔːɹ ʃˈɪp kˈɔːkɪŋ, ænd fɔːɹ wˈɔːɾɚpɹˌuːfɪŋ.