Ayaskānta' (magnetism) may date as far back as the Vedic period (1500 – 500 BCE), while in China, the use of lodestone is documented as early as the 4th century BCE, with significant navigational use in the Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE). In Mesoamerica, the Olmec civilization, which thrived from around 1400 to 400 BCE, also showed potential knowledge of lodestone, contributing to the diverse magnetic understanding of ancient cultures." | The Ancient World Reimagined