Terrazzo, derived from the Italian word "terrace," is thought to have been first put to use in 15th century Venice.  A vast amount of terrazzo remains in Italy's ancient architecture from this time period, supporting this assumption; however, archaeologists have also discovered the use of a matrix and marble chip flooring system used in Turkey that may be as much as 10,000 years old. Italian craftsmen historically used discarded marble chips to create floors on exterior terraces around their homes.  The marble chips were embedded in clay, and when the clay dried, the surface of the flooring was ground down, making it smooth and durable.