Oldowan Culture and the Evolution of Anticipatory Cognition

Anticipatory cognition, that is, the ability to mentally represent future needs, is a uniquely human trait that has arisen along the hominid line. We argue for the co-evolution of early anticipatory cognition and the Oldowan cultural niche. Following Plummer (2004), we identify the niche as consisting of stone tool manufacture, of transports over long ranges of tools as well as food and of the use of accumulation spots. Our main argument is that this niche promoted the selection for anticipatory cognition, in particular planning for future goals. Once established, anticipatory cognition opened up for further cultural developments, such as long ranging migration, division of labour, and advanced co-operation and communication, all of which one find evidence for in Homo ergaster/erectus.