Short answers, pulled from the story.
The oldest known baskets discovered in Faiyum in upper Egypt were carbon dated to between 10,000 and 12,000 years old. This timeline predates the invention of pottery by thousands of years. These ancient containers were made from organic materials like wood, grass, and animal remains that decay naturally over millennia.
Louisa Keyser, known as Dat So La Lee, is arguably the most famous Native American weaver of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her baskets were woven from sumac, yucca, willow, and basket rush and were so highly prized that they were frequently mistaken for the work of other artists. Her influence rippled through the Pomo and Washoe communities.
The introduction of tin and plastic water containers in the late 1960s caused Zulu basketry to become a dying art form. Only three elderly women knew the craft of Zulu basket weaving at that time. Kjell Lofroth formed the Vukani Arts Association to financially support single women and their families to revive the craft.
The Mi'kmaq people of Mi'kma'ki developed a sophisticated system using moose-tendon fibers, cattail plants, and sweetgrass to create functional baskets for agriculture and daily life. Black ash, or wosqoq, became a vital part of Mi'kmaw culture with basket makers renowned for intricate patterns woven in bright colors. These objects were not just containers but cultural artifacts worn at potlatches and passed down through generations.
Mary Jackson, a world-famous African-American sweetgrass basket weaver, was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2008 for her contributions to the craft. Elizabeth F. Kinlaw, another North American basketweaver, has had her work displayed in the Smithsonian Institution. The use of modern materials such as plastic and telephone wire has allowed basket makers to experiment with new forms and colors while still honoring the traditions of their ancestors.