The first screws that were used for the purpose of fastening were made of wood. It was widely used in devices such as oil and wine presses throughout the Mediterranean world by the 1st Century BC. Wooden screws degrade faster and can not hold as much weight as metal screws. However, its modern metal counterpart emerged only during the 15th Century. The metal screw was only made common after machines for its mass production were developed towards the end of the 18th Century.