1st Gen Battery
I have an 8gb 1st gen iPhone and the battery will not change a charge. The phone is still in the original packaging and has never been turned on.
is it reasonable that the 13 year old battery is dead from sitting so long?
Yes, it's completely reasonable. Li-Ion batteries can not tolerate being stored completely drained for long periods of time.
The phone is pretty much useless anyway. Even as a phone.
All first gen iPhones are locked to AT&T and can not be unlocked. AT&T shut down their EDGE (2G) network several years ago.
Recycle it.
