1. The Huron Carol (c. 1643): This French Christmas carol, composed by French Jesuits in Canada, is often cited as the oldest surviving song in North America. It was originally a Huron prayer and was translated into French by the missionaries.
2. "Seikilos Epitaph" (c. 200 BCE): Discovered on a marble stele in Turkey, the Seikilos Epitaph is considered the oldest surviving complete melody with musical notation. It's a short funerary song honoring a man named Seikilos.
3. "Hymn to Ugarit" (c. 1400 BCE): Found inscribed on clay tablets in the ancient city of Ugarit (modern-day Syria), this hymn is dedicated to the goddess Nikkal. It contains melodic contours and instructions on how to perform it, making it an important early example of musical notation.
4. Egyptian Work Songs (c. 1900 BCE): These songs were found on papyrus fragments in ancient Egyptian tombs. They were sung by workers involved in various physical labor and construction activities.
5. Babylonian Psalms (c. 1800 BCE): These religious hymns were found on clay tablets in ancient Babylon. They are characterized by their poetic language and melodies that showcase the early use of musical scales.
It's important to note that these examples are discovered and documented songs that have survived through time. There are likely many other songs that were created even earlier, but due to the limited archaeological record, it's challenging to definitively identify the absolute first song ever made by humans.