Since the easiest way of measuring was to use parts of the human body, the forearm, the hand, or the finger often defined a measurement of length. Pottery was used commonly throughout the ancient world, but since different cultures, and for that matter, different potters, created containers that varied greatly in size, it was difficult to establish a standard. For this reason, pottery was filled with seeds to determine its volume so that a standard for exchange could be established. Grains of wheat or barleycorn were used to determine the weight of gold and silver. Gems such as diamonds were weighed using the carob seed,

thus resulting in the measurement of carats that is still used today.