In the Pre-barter era (circa 2.5 million BCE – 10,000 BCE), self-custody was as simple and direct as survival itself. Early humans, primarily hunter-gatherers, lived in small, nomadic communities. Their possessions were limited to essential items necessary for survival: tools for hunting, foraging, and shelter. The concept of ownership was communal rather than individual, and the idea of self-custody revolved around the immediate protection of these shared resources.

In these early societies, the concept of ”wealth” was non-existent in the way we understand it today. The value was placed on the ability to hunt, gather, and produce essential goods. Self-custody during this time was inherently tied to the physical control of these goods. A spear or a fishing net, for example, was not only a tool but a vital asset. Protection of these assets was critical to the survival of the individual and the group. There was no formalized system for safeguarding these tools beyond keeping them close at hand and within the confines of the group.

As these communities began to settle and develop rudimentary agricultural practices around 10,000 BCE, the notion of property began to emerge. Crops and livestock became the first forms of wealth, and the need for more organized forms of self-custody arose. Simple storage techniques, such as granaries for grain and enclosures for livestock, represented the earliest forms of asset protection. These early methods of self-custody were crucial in laying the groundwork for future economic exchanges.