diff --git a/memanto/memory.py b/memanto/memory.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..32d000c42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memanto/memory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Dict, Optional, Union
+
+@dataclass
+class MemoryRecord:
+    """
+    A structured memory record with content, metadata, provenance, and timestamps.
+    """
+    content: str
+    metadata: Dict[str, Union[str, int, float, bool]] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    provenance: str = "explicit_statement"  # Default provenance
+    created_at: datetime = field(default_factory=datetime.now)
+    updated_at: datetime = field(default_factory=datetime.now)
+
+    def update(self, content: Optional[str] = None, metadata: Optional[Dict] = None, provenance: Optional[str] = None):
+        """
+        Update the memory record, preserving existing metadata and provenance unless explicitly changed.
+        """
+        if content is not None:
+            self.content = content
+        if metadata is not None:
+            self.metadata.update(metadata)
+        if provenance is not None:
+            self.provenance = provenance
+        self.updated_at = datetime.now()
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diff --git a/memanto/storage.py b/memanto/storage.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bf079ccdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memanto/storage.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+from typing import Dict, Optional, Union
+from .memory import MemoryRecord
+
+class MemoryStorage:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.memories: Dict[str, MemoryRecord] = {}
+
+    def update_memory(self, memory_id: str, content: Optional[str] = None, metadata: Optional[Dict] = None, provenance: Optional[str] = None) -> MemoryRecord:
+        """
+        Update an existing memory, preserving existing metadata and provenance unless explicitly changed.
+        """
+        if memory_id not in self.memories:
+            raise ValueError(f"Memory with ID {memory_id} not found")
+
+        memory = self.memories[memory_id]
+        memory.update(content, metadata, provenance)
+        return memory
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diff --git a/tests/test_memory.py b/tests/test_memory.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..48e50d43f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_memory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import unittest
+from datetime import datetime
+from memanto.memory import MemoryRecord
+
+class TestMemoryRecord(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_update_preserves_provenance(self):
+        """
+        Test that updating a memory preserves the original provenance unless explicitly changed.
+        """
+        original_provenance = "validated"
+        memory = MemoryRecord(
+            content="Original content",
+            metadata={"key": "value"},
+            provenance=original_provenance
+        )
+
+        # Update with new content and metadata, but no provenance change
+        memory.update(
+            content="Updated content",
+            metadata={"new_key": "new_value"}
+        )
+
+        # Verify provenance is preserved
+        self.assertEqual(memory.provenance, original_provenance)
+        self.assertEqual(memory.content, "Updated content")
+        self.assertIn("key", memory.metadata)
+        self.assertIn("new_key", memory.metadata)
+
+    def test_update_changes_provenance(self):
+        """
+        Test that updating a memory with a new provenance changes the provenance.
+        """
+        original_provenance = "validated"
+        memory = MemoryRecord(
+            content="Original content",
+            metadata={"key": "value"},
+            provenance=original_provenance
+        )
+
+        # Update with new provenance
+        new_provenance = "corrected"
+        memory.update(provenance=new_provenance)
+
+        # Verify provenance is updated
+        self.assertEqual(memory.provenance, new_provenance)
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diff --git a/tests/test_storage.py b/tests/test_storage.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..71ecf025d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_storage.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import unittest
+from memanto.storage import MemoryStorage
+from memanto.memory import MemoryRecord
+
+class TestMemoryStorage(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.storage = MemoryStorage()
+        self.memory_id = "test_memory"
+        self.original_provenance = "validated"
+        self.memory = MemoryRecord(
+            content="Original content",
+            metadata={"key": "value"},
+            provenance=self.original_provenance
+        )
+        self.storage.memories[self.memory_id] = self.memory
+
+    def test_update_memory_preserves_provenance(self):
+        """
+        Test that updating a memory through the storage preserves the original provenance unless explicitly changed.
+        """
+        updated_memory = self.storage.update_memory(
+            memory_id=self.memory_id,
+            content="Updated content",
+            metadata={"new_key": "new_value"}
+        )
+
+        # Verify provenance is preserved
+        self.assertEqual(updated_memory.provenance, self.original_provenance)
+        self.assertEqual(updated_memory.content, "Updated content")
+        self.assertIn("key", updated_memory.metadata)
+        self.assertIn("new_key", updated_memory.metadata)
+
+    def test_update_memory_changes_provenance(self):
+        """
+        Test that updating a memory through the storage with a new provenance changes the provenance.
+        """
+        new_provenance = "corrected"
+        updated_memory = self.storage.update_memory(
+            memory_id=self.memory_id,
+            provenance=new_provenance
+        )
+
+        # Verify provenance is updated
+        self.assertEqual(updated_memory.provenance, new_provenance)
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