Based on current historical records, the earliest known individual whose name is recorded in writing is Kushim.
The Earliest Named Individual in Written History
While it's impossible to know who the very first human being was, history provides us with the name of the earliest person known to us through written records. This distinction belongs to Kushim.
Who is Kushim?
Kushim is not known from historical narratives or biographies, but from administrative records. Their name appears on ancient clay tablets that date back to the Uruk period in Mesopotamia, specifically between c. 3400 and 3000 BCE.
These tablets represent some of the earliest known examples of writing in the world. The texts on which Kushim's name appears are simple accounts, primarily documenting the transaction or administration of barley.
- Name: Kushim
- Era: Uruk period (circa 3400–3000 BCE)
- Medium: Clay tablets
- Context: Administrative records, specifically involving barley transactions
- Significance: Earliest known named person in writing
The name "Kushim" might represent an individual, perhaps an accountant or an administrator, or potentially an office or institution. However, in the context of surviving written records, it is the first known instance of a specific name associated with a person or role.
Here's a quick summary of key facts about Kushim:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Kushim |
| Period | Uruk Period (c. 3400–3000 BCE) |
| Written On | Clay Tablets |
| Content | Barley Transactions |
| Significance | Earliest Known Named Person in Writing |
Addressing the Question's Scope
It's important to clarify what "first known person" means in this context. The question could potentially refer to the very first member of the human species (Homo sapiens), which is a matter for paleoanthropology and genetics, and there is no single identifiable "first person."
However, from the perspective of recorded history – the period for which we have written evidence – Kushim is the earliest individual whose name has survived to the present day. This makes Kushim the "first known person" in writing. The reference provided specifically points to Kushim as "the earliest known example of a named person in writing."
Therefore, while we don't know the name of the first human who ever lived, we do know the name of the first individual recorded by name in the dawn of written history: Kushim.
