Ancient Humans Kept Souvenirs, New Study Suggests

A new study from Tel Aviv University proposes that the human habit of collecting and keeping seemingly non-utilitarian objects, like a unique stone or shell, may have roots stretching back hundreds of thousands of years. Researchers combined archaeological findings with insights from psychology and neuroscience to explore this behavior.

The study points to ancient artifacts that early humans collected, carried, and preserved without any clear practical advantage. These are suggested to be personal souvenirs, objects that reminded their owners of a place visited or an experience had. Examples include small, colorful pebbles found in Israel's Qesem Cave, brought from various locations without any identified practical use.

Hand axes made from chert nodules containing fossils or unusual geological formations were discovered in the Sakhnin Valley. Some of these tools preserved these unique features, allowing them to be seen and touched. In other sites like Revadim, Jaljulia, and Qesem Cave, ancient chert tools were found that had been collected after their surfaces had changed over time. While some were re-sharpened, their old surfaces and previous processing marks were largely preserved, suggesting their age itself held value.

Researchers theorize that objects brought from a specific location could trigger personal memories. Their appearance and feel might have helped individuals distinguish between their own experiences and those heard or imagined. These personal souvenirs, portable and displayable, could also have reinforced the credibility of personal narratives, which are crucial for social cohesion, alliances, and trust in human societies. The study suggests that the use of souvenirs over generations may have exerted evolutionary pressure on brain mechanisms responsible for memory accuracy and origin.

Professor Barkai suggests a possible link to environmental changes, noting that the disappearance of large animals like elephants necessitated new hunting strategies and familiarity with areas inhabited by animals like deer and wild cattle. Objects brought from these areas might have helped maintain a personal connection to these vital food sources. However, the researchers emphasize this is a hypothesis, not proof that every special stone was a souvenir. Dr. Ram concludes that these objects acted as "external memory devices," supporting the evolution of autobiographical memory and identity formation in humans.