An oven is an enclosed compartment for heating, baking or drying. It is most commonly used in cooking and pottery. Two common kinds of modern ovens are gas ovens and electric ovens. Ovens used in pottery are also known as kilns. An oven used for heating or for industrial processes is called a furnace or industrial oven. History Settlements across the Indus Valley Civilization were the first to have an oven within each mud-brick house by 3200 BC. (External Link) culinary historians credit the Gre… (More on Oven)