The Common Lisp condition system is based on the 'New Error System' in Zetalisp for the Symbolics Lisp Machine operating system. The New Error System is from the early 80s. So we are talking about 35 years old. Well, actually the New Error System was based on ideas from PL/I and the Multics OS from the 60s..

The more interesting thing is not the wheel (aka the technology) itself, but how to make actual use of it...