A collection of 3-million-year-old bones unearthed 50 years ago in Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins. Fifty years ago, our understanding of human origins began to change with the discovery of Lucy, a remarkably complete, 3.2-million-year-old human relative unearthed from the sandy soil in Hadar, Ethiopia. A 2.5-million-year-old fossil of a hominin species called Australopithecus africanus had been discovered in South Africa. Why Lucy drew fame Many ancient human ancestors are known from fragments. A reconstructed skeleton of Lucy is displayed next to Grace Latimer, 4, to illustrate Lucy's small stature and brain size.

Source: Ethiopian News November 22, 2024 17:02 UTC