Here's why:

* Early elements were primarily metals: The first elements discovered were mainly metals. This is because metals are generally more abundant and easier to isolate than gases.

* Examples: Gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin were all known in ancient times.

* Gases were later discoveries: Gases like oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen were not isolated and identified until the 17th and 18th centuries, thanks to the development of scientific methods for manipulating and studying gases.