I want to know the answer to the following question:
Was is the earliest phase of buddhism?
All the background I'm provided with is that "Certain basic teachings appear in many places throughout the early texts, so most scholars conclude that Gautama Buddha must have taught something similar to the Three marks of existence, the Five Aggregates, dependent origination, karma and rebirth, the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and nirvana.". Is that enough to answer the question?
Answer: no