Could we be one of the OLDEST civilizations in the galaxy?

Hello Gang,
For all we know we may indeed be one of the OLDEST civilizations in the galaxy? By that I mean that it is only in this epoch of galactic history that civilizations have begun to emerge and we are one of them. Or if there where older civilizations they where wiped out by some galaxy wide catastrophe like gamma ray busters. Implying that in this period of galactic history we are seeing intelligent civilizations beginning to reemerging now. And, we happen to be one of the first.