Clay objects have been made for as long as the human race has existed, with functional vessels for storage making their appearance at the same time as the development of agriculture. Many of these pots were decorated in various ways, and in most early societies the potters were held in high regard. In China, Japan, and Classical Greece, pottery became a true art form, clays became ever more refined, and new glazes, decorative techniques, and firing methods were discovered, many of which are still used today.