Most Anciently Named Person?

[Neil]

That's easy: Adam.

There's no historical evidence for him.

[Monoriu]

Don't think there is anyone in Chinese history older than that.  The most ancient named Chinese rulers were mostly mythical beings, and there is no credible evidence to support their existance.  The oldest "believable" existance of a named Chinese ruler is around 1,000 BC. 

[jimmy olsen]

As a follow-up to the Biblical thread, a question for the Languish historians: who is the person who lived the longest time ago, for whom there is good evidence that they actually existed (as opposed to purely legendary or mythological characters) - for whom we can actually put a (contemporary) name?

My own suggestion is Egyptian King Narmer (aprox. 32nd century BC):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narmer

Is there anyone who lived yet longer ago, whom we can name?

Serious answer, King Scorpion, or alternately if that's just an alias of Narmer, than his mother Shesh I.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Scorpion

Or the predynatistic Ka?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ka_%28pharaoh%29

Ka ruled over Abydos in the late 32nd or early 31st century BCE and was buried at Umm el-Qa'ab. He most likely was the immediate successor to Iry-Hor and was succeeded by Narmer[2]. He is the earliest known Egyptian king with a serekh, inscribed on a number of artefacts [3].

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Grumbler.

His Clan captured Daryl Hannah.

[jimmy olsen]

Grumbler.

His Clan captured Daryl Hannah.

Just got the reference.

[Jaron]

grumbler is going to waltz in here and declare this thread invalid pretty soon if someone doesn't start citing better sources than wikipedia. 

[jimmy olsen]

grumbler is going to waltz in here and declare this thread invalid pretty soon if someone doesn't start citing better sources than wikipedia. 

I don't think anyone mistakes this thread for a scientifically accurate survey of early dynastic figures.

[DontSayBanana]

That's easy: Adam.

If "because I read it in a book" won't fly for any other argument, what makes you think it'll work for this one?

[Korea]

I hate Tim.

Everybody does.

I don't.

[jimmy olsen]

I hate Tim.

Everybody does.

I don't.

[Jaron]

PDH does.

[Eddie Teach]

I think PDH has a repressed crush on Tim and will end up murdering him one day.

[Brazen]

Think I remember this right. An Egyptologist who led a trip I went on was into alternative comparative chronology. Through applying new carbon dating techniques and matching Biblical to Egyptian chronologies, he reckoned Shishaq was in fact Ramses II (the great), backed up by the name in Hebrew closely matching one of his titles in Egyptian. There's evidence he lived to 90 or 91, which would put him in contention.

Applying the same techniques, the Egyptologist reckoned he'd found the tomb of pharaoh-botherer Joseph, and showed us a tablet of an adviser interpreting a pharaoh's dream of skinny and fat cattle.

[Josquius]

Don't think there is anyone in Chinese history older than that.  The most ancient named Chinese rulers were mostly mythical beings, and there is no credible evidence to support their existance.  The oldest "believable" existance of a named Chinese ruler is around 1,000 BC. 

Its the Chinese' own fault for going all 1984 on their pre-unification history

[PDH]

I think PDH has a repressed crush on Tim and will end up murdering him one day.

It IS a love-hate relationship. I love to hate him.