Early humans used keepsakes to shape autobiographical memory 500,000 years ago

Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Oxford University suggest that early humans began collecting personal keepsakes approximately 500,000 years ago.

The team analyzed archaeological evidence from sites in Israel, including Qesem Cave and the Sakhnin Valley, to understand how these objects influenced human evolution. The researchers identified objects that served no clear practical purpose but were carried or kept by early humans. These include colorful pebbles from various locations and handaxes made from flint containing fossils or unique geological formations.

In some cases, people preserved the aged surfaces of old tools, suggesting they valued the history or "story" of the object. The study proposes that these keepsakes acted as external memory devices. By carrying an object from a specific place, an individual could trigger memories of personal experiences and distinguish firsthand events from stories told by others. This ability to organize personal experiences into a continuous life story helped humans build trust, maintain relationships, and cooperate within their societies.

The team suggests that environmental changes may have driven this behavior. As large animals disappeared, people had to learn new hunting grounds and methods. Keeping objects from these locations may have helped them maintain a connection to the places that provided their livelihood. Over generations, this practice likely pressured the brain to develop better mechanisms for identifying the source and reliability of memories.