What is "anteceded"

Usage examples of "anteceded".

Here blood had been spilled upon the ground, here obscene practices had been acted out, here monstrous entities had trod with evil intent--and not only recently, but extending back into unguessed time, perhaps into that time that anteceded mankind.

Here blood had been spilled upon the ground, here obscene practices had been acted out, here monstrous entities had trod with evil intent—and not only recently, but extending back into unguessed time, perhaps into that time that anteceded mankind.