# get_ancestors

Get all ancestor entities of an entity

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `get_ancestors`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/get-ancestors

## Facts

- Tool: `get_ancestors`
- Server: Enhanced Knowledge Graph Memory Server (`danielsimonjr/memory-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/danielsimonjr/memory-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "get_ancestors",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why get_ancestors is rated Low

This tool retrieves and returns data about ancestor relationships in the knowledge graph. It has no side effects, does not modify data, and does not trigger external operations. It is a straightforward data retrieval query, fitting the Read category. The severity is low because misuse would only expose existing stored knowledge rather than cause data loss, financial harm, or system compromise.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'get_ancestors' and description 'Get all ancestor entities of an entity' indicate a retrieval operation that queries hierarchical relationships in the knowledge graph without modification."

## Use case

AI agents call get_ancestors to retrieve information from Enhanced Knowledge Graph Memory Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Enhanced Knowledge Graph Memory Server:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "get_ancestors": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Enhanced Knowledge Graph Memory Server (224)

- `adaptive_reduce_memories` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/adaptive-reduce-memories.md
- `cache_clear` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/cache-clear.md
- `clear_expired_memories` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/clear-expired-memories.md
- `clear_heuristics` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/clear-heuristics.md
- `clear_project_context` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/clear-project-context.md
- `delete_entities` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/delete-entities.md
- `delete_observations` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/delete-observations.md
- `delete_relations` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/delete-relations.md
- `delete_saved_search` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/delete-saved-search.md
- `deregister_ref` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/deregister-ref.md
- `forget_memory` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/forget-memory.md
- `forget_weak_memories` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/forget-weak-memories.md
- `invalidate_entity` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/invalidate-entity.md
- `rbac_revoke_role` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/rbac-revoke-role.md
- `remove_exclusion_rule` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/remove-exclusion-rule.md
- `remove_heuristic` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/remove-heuristic.md
- `remove_project_command` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/remove-project-command.md
- `remove_project_convention` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/remove-project-convention.md
- `remove_project_fact` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/remove-project-fact.md
- `remove_project_glossary_term` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/remove-project-glossary-term.md
- `remove_tag_alias` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/remove-tag-alias.md
- `remove_tool_affordance` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/remove-tool-affordance.md
- `consolidate_session` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/consolidate-session.md
- `dream_run_now` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/dream-run-now.md
- `dream_start` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/dream-start.md
- `dream_stop` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/dream-stop.md
- `end_session` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/end-session.md
- `parse_adr_markdown` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/parse-adr-markdown.md
- `run_consolidation_now` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/run-consolidation-now.md
- `run_decay_cycle` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp/run-decay-cycle.md
- …and 194 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=danielsimonjr-memory-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/danielsimonjr-memory-mcp