The American architect Phillip Johnson frequently describes the profession of architecture as the second oldest profession. What is the first?

The first profession that existed in the world, was that of cook.

According to studies, approximately 1.9 million years ago, when Homo erectus dominated the soil of this planet, the need arose to cook and prepare the foods that were found.

The profession of cook also emerged before the craft of farming, since these groups lived like nomads and did not settle permanently in a single place.

The cook, therefore, was the person in the group who was in charge of one of the most important tasks. Their work was rewarded by the right to receive food, protection and shelter.

The researchers were only able to reach these conclusions, after finding specific kitchen utensils close to fossils of that time.

Cooking was considered the first profession to exist, since hunting and collecting food are habits that we can find among other primates and mammals in nature.

So this was the first exclusively human activity that can be considered a trade, a profession.

Prostitution

Explanation:

According to a different source, the options that come with this question are:

Law (e. g. Attorney, Judge, etc.). Teaching. Prostitution. Medicine.

Prostitution is often known as the "world's oldest profession." This is because this profession addresses a need that has always been present in humans and that is considered absolutely essential to our existence. Moreover, the practice requires little specialization or technological development, and is of interest all over the world. However, besides this, architecture could possibly be one of the world's oldest professions as well.