Were clay pots fine? How would we know it wasn’t helping with the 50% child mortality rate? I object to the idea that the old-times ways were better when we kn

Were clay pots fine? How would we know it wasn’t helping with the 50% child mortality rate? I object to the idea that the old-times ways were better when we know even in the short history people were prescribe cigarettes and brushed their teeth with radioactive toothpaste.