When you think about firsts, you probably picture iconic moments like the first telephone call or the first steps on the Moon. Yet history is peppered with countless obscure milestones that have quietly shaped our world. Below we dive into the 10 most amazing firsts that span murder mysteries, culinary deliveries, ancient jokes, and more—each one a fascinating glimpse into humanity’s earliest achievements.
Why These 10 Most Amazing Firsts Matter
10 Evidence of the First Murder Dates Back 430,000 Years
True‑crime fans love a good mystery, and the oldest one on record dates back an astonishing 430,000 years. In a Spanish cave, archaeologists uncovered a human skull that bore clear signs of violent death, making it the earliest known homicide victim.
The discovery, made in 2015, revealed that the skull had been brutally struck on the head with a hard implement—likely an awl or primitive axe. Radiocarbon dating placed the remains firmly at around 430,000 BC, confirming the ancient nature of the crime.
Scientists still can’t determine the victim’s age, gender, or even exact species, as the remains predate Homo sapiens. All that is clear is that an early human ancestor met a violent end, offering a chilling glimpse into prehistoric conflict.
9 The Mowing Devil Was the First Known Reference to Crop Circles in 1678
While modern crop circles are often linked to UFO lore, the concept actually stretches back to the 17th century. In 1678, a folk tale titled “The Mowing Devil” described the devil himself mowing a farmer’s oat field in perfect circles, leaving a patterned imprint on the crops.
This story, complete with printed illustrations, is the earliest documented reference to patterned circles appearing in cultivated fields, predating the 20th‑century surge of mysterious designs by centuries.
8 An Accountant From Sumeria Is the First Person to Have Ever Recorded Their Own Name
One of the most obscure milestones belongs to a Sumerian scribe named Kushim, whose name appears on a clay tablet from the city of Uruk dated between 3400 and 3000 BC. While tallying barley, Kushim made a mistake and added his own signature to correct the record.
This act made Kushim the earliest known individual to inscribe his personal name onto a surviving document, a feat that predates the recorded names of kings and other notable figures.
Because most early writing focused on administrative details, Kushim’s self‑identification stands out as a rare glimpse into personal agency in the ancient world.
7 Henry VIII May Have Been the First Catfish Victim in 1539
Catfishing—pretending to be someone else online—is a modern phenomenon, but its roots stretch back centuries. In 1539, Henry VIII agreed to marry Anne of Cleves after being shown a flattering portrait of her, only to discover in person that she looked very different.
The king reportedly quipped, “I see nothing in this woman as men have reported of her,” highlighting the disappointment of a royal “catfish” scenario. Various theories suggest political motives, personal incompatibility, or even rumors about Anne’s prior childbirth, but the episode remains a classic early example of being misled by appearances.
While Henry couldn’t blame a digital avatar, the mismatch between portrait and reality mirrors today’s online deception, making him an inadvertent pioneer of the catfishing saga.
6 The First Recorded Gay Couple May Have Been in Ancient Egypt
Same‑sex relationships have a long, albeit often hidden, history. The earliest possible depiction of a gay couple comes from ancient Egypt, where two male court officials—Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep—were buried together in a tomb at Saqqara around 2400 BC.
The tomb shows the pair in an intimate embrace, nose‑to‑nose, with Khnumhotep positioned in the role traditionally reserved for a wife. Their hands are clasped, and the scene suggests a partnership beyond mere brotherhood.
Although some scholars point out that one of the men had a wife and children, the artistic evidence strongly hints at a romantic bond, marking possibly the first recorded same‑sex couple in history.
5 The First Recorded Strike by Workers Happened in 1152 BC
Labor unrest is as old as work itself. The earliest documented strike occurred in 1152 BC when artisans building the royal necropolis at Deir el‑Medina, under Pharaoh Ramses III, stopped working over delayed wages.
Egypt was reeling from costly wars with the Sea Peoples, leading to economic strain. The state’s ambitious temple‑building projects required skilled labor, but the workers were repeatedly paid late.
After waiting 18 days for overdue wages, the craftsmen collectively refused to continue, marking the first known instance of organized labor action.
4 First Recorded Use of Dirty Words for Genitalia Dates Back to 1230
Swear words have a surprisingly ancient pedigree. While the modern “F‑word” appears around 1310 and “fart” around 1250, the earliest documented profanity targeting genitalia dates to 1230 AD.
In Oxford, a notorious street for prostitution was recorded as “Gropec * Lane,” employing the infamous c‑word to label the area. This demonstrates that bawdy language was already part of everyday speech in medieval England.
Male slang followed soon after, with “ballocks” (later “bollocks”) traced to 1360, and other explicit terms emerging in the 15th century, underscoring a long‑standing tradition of colorful vernacular.
3 First Pizza Delivery Happened in 1889
Pizza is a global staple, but its first delivery predates modern take‑out culture. In 1889, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Italy visited Naples, prompting chef Raffaele Esposito to craft three fresh pizzas on the spot.
Esposito personally delivered the pies to the royal couple, marking the inaugural pizza delivery. One of those pies, featuring mozzarella, basil, and tomato, was later named the Margherita in honor of the queen’s colors.
2 First “Yo Momma” Joke Was on a 3,500‑Year‑Old Babylonian Tablet
Humor has ancient roots, and a Babylonian tablet dating to roughly 1500 BC contains what appears to be the world’s first “yo momma” insult. The tablet, part of a collection of riddles, ends with a fragment that reads, “…of your mother is by the one who has intercourse with her. What/who is it?”
Although the rest of the text is damaged, scholars agree the incomplete line clearly targets a mother, making it an early example of the “yo momma” joke format that still circulates today.
1 The First Known Author Was a Woman Named Enheduanna
The Epic of Gilgamesh, composed around 2000 BC, is the oldest surviving story, yet its author remains unknown. The first writer whose name we actually possess is Enheduanna, a high priestess and poet from Mesopotamia who lived around 2300 BC.
Enheduanna, daughter of the Akkadian ruler Sargon, authored three poems and 42 hymns that were etched onto an alabaster disk discovered in 1927. Her name, meaning “Ornament of Heaven,” marks a historic moment as the earliest identifiable author in recorded history.