I guess my question is two part:
How early was oil first discovered? And how long did it take for people to realize its practicality? Did they find the oil and use it in several methods before finding its utility, or did they immediately realize its possible use?
hi! Assuming you're referring to petroleum, there is lots of room for more information on this topic, but to get you started, you may be interested in this section of the FAQ
and this related post