OKOKOK
re: Farum as prehistory. I just remembered that the source of fire most common/available to (very ancient) humans was wildfire (which in often sparked by lightning). Control of fire being one of the oldest and most foundational human technologies.
The Ring -> Order, sentience, civilization. All appear in Farum long before the present era. Essentially, Dragonbolts bring heavenly fire to earth, marking the beginning of civilization among earthside beings. Also, the smithing arts to come after (somewhat implied by Bestial Sling).
Sure you can organize the pre-Erdtree world in a myriad of ways. But from a thematic angle, there's a strong argument for Dragon-first timeline. There might also be a entire "thief of fire" myth angle here, but I'll let other people chew on that.
