<P> Chewing gum is a soft, cohesive substance designed to be chewed without being swallowed . Modern chewing gum is composed of gum base, sweeteners, softeners / plasticizers, flavors, colors, and, typically, a hard or powdered polyol coating . Its texture is reminiscent of rubber because of the physical - chemical properties of its polymer, plasticizer, and resin components, which contribute to its elastic - plastic, sticky, chewy characteristics . </P> <P> The cultural tradition of chewing gum seems to have developed through a convergent evolution process, as traces of this habit have arisen separately in many of the early civilizations . Each of the early precursors to chewing gum were derived from natural growths local to the region and were chewed purely out the instinctual desire to masticate . Early chewers did not necessarily desire to derive nutritional benefits from their chewable substances, but at times sought taste stimuli and teeth cleaning or breath - freshening capabilities . </P> <P> Chewing gum in many forms has existed since the Neolithic period . 6,000 - year - old chewing gum made from birch bark tar, with tooth imprints, has been found in Kierikki in Finland . The tar from which the gums were made is believed to have antiseptic properties and other medicinal benefits . It is chemically similar to petroleum tar and is in this way different from most other early gum . The Mayans and Aztecs were the first to exploit the positive properties of gum, they used chicle, a natural tree gum, as a base for making a gum - like substance and to stick objects together in everyday use . Forms of chewing gums were also chewed in Ancient Greece . The Ancient Greeks chewed mastic gum, made from the resin of the mastic tree . Mastic gum, like birch bark tar, has antiseptic properties and is believed to have been used to maintain oral health . Both chicle and mastic are tree resins . Many other cultures have chewed gum - like substances made from plants, grasses, and resins . </P> <Table> Variations of early chewing gum worldwide <Tr> <Th> Ancient civilization </Th> <Th> Chewing gum precursor </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ancient Greece </Td> <Td> Mastic tree bark </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ancient Maya </Td> <Td> Chicle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chinese </Td> <Td> Ginseng plant roots </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Eskimos </Td> <Td> Blubber </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Native Americans </Td> <Td> Sugar pine and spruce sap </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Americans </Td> <Td> Coca leaves </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Asia (India) </Td> <Td> Betel nuts </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United States (early settlers) </Td> <Td> Tobacco leaves </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When was the first piece of gum made
find me the text answering this question