Ikaramu yakozwe nk’igikoresho cyo guhanga no gufasha imyigire ya muntu, ikaramu ifite inkomoko ishimishije. Ikaramu ya mbere yagaragaye ahagana mu kinyejana cya 16, ubwo hakorwaga ubuvumbuzi bwa serendipitous i Borrowdale, mu Bwongereza.
Mu 1564, hakozwe “ikaramu” ishobora gukoreshwa mu kwandika no gushushanya. Ibuye Graphite ryari ryoroshye kugirango habeho ikorwa ry’ikaramu.
Ibi bikoresho bya rudimentary byari ibitekerezo byabanyabukorikori b’i Burayi, cyane cyane mu Bwongereza, aho grafite nziza yakozwe mu mpera z’ikinyejana cya 18.
Mu 1795, Umufaransa Nicolas-Jacques Conté yahinduye grafite , ayihinduramo ikaramu, ayibumbamo inkoni, ibyo twe abubu dukunnze kwita kereyo.
Ibi bishya ntabwo byateje imbere kuramba gusa ahubwo byanemereye ibyiciro bitandukanye byo gukomera, gushyiraho urwego rw’amakaramu menshi nkuko uyu munsi bimeze.
