The pottery vessels crafted in ancient Japan during the Jomon period are generally accepted as the oldest known form of pottery making in the world. These vessels dating as far back as 13,000 BCE were mostly made by women, in what is also considered one of the earliest examples of a sedentary culture. The name Jomon in Japanese translates to "twisted cord" or "cord marked" due to the markings on the surface of the vessel.
lots of info out there, including Mathilda's Anthropology Blog HERE