In the time even before the Ancient God-Queens, there was a great civilization ✣ , which apparently surpassed even them in abilities. Very little is known about it, because it collapsed long before the ascent of the Queens, and even they had to rely on scant archeological evidence. The moniker is just a shorthand due to current lack of a proper name, or any meaningful knowledge, really. Despite this, there are indications that this civilisation is somehow central to the plot - it's theorized they were the ones to create Queen's Mirrors, their major site is on the island which is also the center of new spread of mutagenic "cursed waters" (sounding much like River Dyne) corrupting the secret forest - the dwelling place of Great Cetacean Song Keeper (with whom they also cooperated). Also, either their ruins ✣ appear to have a difficult relation with linear time, or someone was covering them up (or both).
Turns out they were also aware of the Flames and their properties, but unlike the Queens and their second ascencion they harnessed the Flames in their technology, such as powering the Gates. When the Queens succeeded them, at least some effectively became squatters, occupying the old facilities and turning them into their own temple-palaces.
Apparently ✣ , they were preceded by the bronze men (whatever they are), and Polar Ice Lords are even older than that. Whether there was someone before the Ice Lords currently remains unknown.
