In one of the Warhammer 40k science-fiction books there's a scene I've always liked. One of the characters is standing at the centre of a human space empire. Within the most important palace on Earth. And finds himself in a museum wing called "The Hall of Victories". Which is cherishing the accomplishments of human race in the distant space-faring future.
It contains a variety of technological achievements. Some military, most scientific. Such as the first stable human cloning formula. The first Titan rover. The first faster-than-light navigation circuit, etc. But in the middle of the museum is the centrepiece. A display case containing several shards of dented clay. Forming the outline of some sort of bowl.
The character expresses confusion at the placement. Pointing out that it's so simple a child could make it. But another character explains why it's so crucial. That without that bowl, all the other museum exhibits wouldn't exist.
That at some point in the unrecorded past, one of our primitive ancestors noticed that a type of mud hardened when left in the sun. And he or she decided that they were going to MAKE something. That our journey as a species had those tentative first steps!
