The fossil known globally as Lucy (cataloged as AL 288-1) represents the remarkably complete skeleton of an early human ancestor. This specimen is a female of the species Australopithecus afarensis, a hominin that walked the Earth approximately 3.2 million years ago. Her discovery provided an unprecedented look into the anatomy of our ancient relatives and reshaped the understanding of human evolutionary history. Accounting for about 40% of a full skeleton, the relative completeness of her remains made her an immediate international sensation in the field of paleoanthropology.
Lucy’s Permanent Home
The original fossilized bones of Lucy are housed in the National Museum of Ethiopia, located in the capital city of Addis Ababa. This institution serves as the official custodian of Ethiopia’s most treasured paleontological and archaeological finds.
The fragmented skeleton is not typically kept on public display due to its immense scientific and cultural value and fragile nature. The authentic remains are stored in a specially constructed, high-security, and climate-controlled vault within the museum’s paleoanthropology laboratory. This secure environment protects the delicate specimen from environmental degradation and potential damage.
For the public, a detailed plaster replica or cast of Lucy is prominently exhibited. The practice of using casts allows for scientific study and exhibition around the world while the actual fossil remains safeguarded in its country of origin.
The 1974 Discovery
Lucy was discovered in the rugged terrain of the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia, specifically at the Hadar site in the Awash Valley. The discovery took place on November 24, 1974, during an expedition co-led by American paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson and French geologist Maurice Taieb. Johanson and his graduate student, Tom Gray, initially spotted a fragment of bone on the surface of a gully.
The subsequent excavation revealed hundreds of bone fragments belonging to a single small-bodied individual, making it the most complete early hominin skeleton found at the time. The fossil earned its famous nickname that evening when the excavation team was celebrating their find back at camp. The Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” was playing repeatedly, leading the team to affectionately christen the ancient hominin “Lucy.”
What Lucy Revealed About Early Hominids
Lucy provided definitive evidence for habitual bipedalism, or walking upright on two legs. Analysis of her pelvic girdle showed it was shorter and broader than that of a modern ape, closely resembling the pelvis of a modern human. This bowl-like shape supported her body weight while standing and walking erect.
Further evidence of her locomotion was found in the structure of her femur and knee joint. These contained an oblique angle, or carrying angle, that positioned her knees and feet directly beneath the center of gravity. This anatomy is characteristic of bipeds, allowing for a stable, energy-efficient stride. Lucy also possessed relatively long arms in proportion to her legs, suggesting she may have retained some capacity for tree climbing.
The combination of her small brain size, comparable to that of a chimpanzee, and her fully adapted bipedal skeleton provided a major insight into human evolution. Lucy’s species demonstrated that the shift to walking upright occurred millions of years before the significant expansion of the hominin brain. This finding overturned earlier theories, proving that bipedal locomotion was the first defining feature of the human lineage.
Preservation and Public Access
The Ethiopian government maintains rigorous control over the specimen, emphasizing its status as a national treasure. The dedicated vault ensures the bones are protected from fluctuations in temperature and humidity that could cause irreversible damage.
To balance preservation with the global demand for research, high-fidelity casts and replicas were created from the original fossils. These detailed copies are distributed to museums and research institutions worldwide, allowing scientists to study her unique anatomy without handling the original material.
On rare occasions, the Ethiopian government has permitted the original Lucy fossil to leave the country for limited international exhibitions. Such travel is highly controversial among paleontologists, who express concern over the potential for damage during transit.