Even prehistoric humans kept souvenirs - new study sheds light on the human habit

A new study from Tel Aviv University suggests that the human habit of keeping souvenirs dates back hundreds of thousands of years. Researchers point to ancient objects collected without practical use, such as pebbles in Qesem Cave, and theorize they served as personal mementos that supported the evolution of autobiographical memory.

A new study from Tel Aviv University offers a surprising explanation for the human habit of keeping souvenirs: its roots may go back hundreds of thousands of years. Researchers point to objects that ancient people collected, carried, and kept even though they had no clear practical advantage, such as colorful pebbles in Qesem Cave and hand axes from the Sakhnin Valley. According to them, these objects served as personal mementos that helped remember events, strengthen the credibility of stories, and support the evolution of autobiographical memory. Prof. Barkai suggests a connection to environmental changes, and Dr. Ram describes the souvenirs as "external memory devices." The researchers emphasize that this is a hypothesis, but the archaeological evidence shows that this phenomenon has accompanied humans from half a million years ago to the present day.