Humor is timeless. Styles change, references fade, but some things—apparently—are eternal.
According to historians at the University of Wolverhampton, the oldest recorded joke in human history dates back to 1900 BC. It was found on a clay tablet from the ancient Sumerian civilization (modern-day Iraq).
And yes, it is a fart joke.
The Joke (Translated)
The joke is a proverb that reads:
"Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband's lap."
Why It Was Funny Then
Okay, it might not make you roll on the floor today. But context is everything. 1. Universality: Flatulence is a biological universal. Everybody does it, and it's always been slightly taboo or embarrassing. 2. Intimacy: The joke plays on the intimacy of marriage. It suggests that despite all romantic poetry, realistic human bodily functions are unavoidable. 3. Irony: The setup ("Something which has never occurred since time immemorial") sounds grand and epic, like the beginning of a myth. The punchline ("a young woman farting") is crude and domestic. This juxtaposition (High vs. Low) is a classic comedic structure that remains popular today.
Other Ancient Contenders
The Sumerians weren't alone. * 1600 BC (Egypt): A joke about how to entertain a bored Pharaoh (it involves women in fishing nets—some things never change). * 10th Century AD (Britain): The oldest British joke is a riddle: "What hangs at a man's thigh and wants to poke the hole that it's often poked before?" Answer: A key. (Get your mind out of the gutter!)
Conclusion
It is strangely comforting to know that nearly 4,000 years ago, people were sitting around laughing at the exact same bodily functions we laugh at today. Technology advances, empires fall, but a well-timed fart joke lasts forever.