Precursor

The Precursors were mentioned in the Bestiarum as the race preceding and mythologized by the Forerunner, being theoretical "Trans-sentient" beings, having the ability to travel among galaxies and accelerate the evolution of intelligent life. The Precursors achieved a higher level technological advancement than the Forerunner, being Tier 0, or (Trans-sentience) on the Forerunners' Technological Achievement Scale.

History
Not much is known about them, but information that can be found by text from the logs stored in the Terminals around the Ark indicates it is possible that the Forerunner 'Mantle' (Guardians of the Galaxy and all life) was handed down from "legends of the past": the Precursors. It has been presumed that the Precursors viewed the Forerunner as their own legacy, continuing their work after they departed, much in the same way Forerunner viewed Humanity before the activation of the rings. In this way, Humanity is related to the Precursors. It is highly possible that the Precursors, Forerunners and Humanity were all the same race. However after the depart of the Precursors and the firing of the Halo rings what was left of these great civilizations devolved to tier 6 and eventually re-evolved.

Trivia

 * The term Precursor means "one that precedes and indicates the approach of another". The term supports that it surpassed the Forerunner. Also, Precursor in Latin can mean Forerunner [pre + currere :: before + to run, flow], though this is thanks merely to semantic pliability.
 * The Precursors were the only civilization to achieve Tier 0 of the Forerunner Technological Achievement Tiers and to exceed the Forerunner in technological advancement.
 * In Halo: The Fall of Reach, Dr. Halsey uses the term Precursor to describe the alien race that created the crystal found on Sigma Octanus IV.