Historically, human knowledge has been conceptualized through the lens of written records, but the vast majority of human history relied on complex, non-literate architectures. These systems demonstrate that memory and information are not merely stored in the brain, but are distributed across landscapes, textiles, objects, and bodies.

In primary oral cultures, knowledge is sustained through rhythmic, formulaic, and aggregative speech patterns that reduce cognitive load and aid memory. Indigenous Australian traditions exemplify this through "Songlines," which are narrative pathways that encode vital navigational, ecological, and cultural data directly into the landscape. These songlines, sometimes paired with celestial star maps, served as ancient GPS systems that guided travelers across vast and unfamiliar territories. Remarkably, this oral ...