precursor

US /ˌpriːˈkɝː.sɚ/
UK /ˌpriːˈkɝː.sɚ/
1.

a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner.

:
•
a three-stringed precursor of the violin
:
forerunnerpredecessorforefatherfatherparentantecedentancestorforebearprogenitorpioneertrailblazer