I am sure everyone has heard the phrase, “that is older than dirt.” Well today I present you a few jokes that while not truly older than dirt, were being shared at the water bucket nearly three thousand years ago.

The worlds oldest joke has been traced back to 1900BC. 

According to a 1900BC Sumerian knee-slapper “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.”

*crickets*

Now with the advent of modern technology we can hear how audio jokes are showing those Pharaohs how to bring it.  “Silent farts that don’t stink” told by ralong is the modern ancestor. (Who knew that fart jokes had such a long tradition.)

Here’s another oldie from 1600BC (or 2600BC depending which source you trust):

“How do you entertain a bored pharaoh? You sail a boatload of young women dressed only in fishing nets down the Nile and urge the pharaoh to go catch a fish.”

Now listen to my audio adaptation on Comicwonder. “Pharaoh goes fishing” If you can tell it better, feel free! your great great great great great great grandchildren may get a chuckle out of it.

Via Reuters : Worlds oldest Joke traced back to 1900 BC