Lucy the Australopithecus: the fossil that changed everything

There are many evolutionary and anthropological theories about the origin of our species, who were the first human bipeds or what biological chain the human species comes from. However, the fossil records serve to clarify these unknowns.

In this sense, one of the most famous skeletons in the world is that of Lucy the Australopithecus. Next we will see what its value is based on, and why thanks to this finding we know more about the human being.

• Related article: "The theory of biological evolution"

Who is Lucy the Australopithecus?

It was the autumn of 1974, when one of the most important finds in the history of mankind was made on the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital about two hours by car, in Hadar. Lucy is the result of excavations in which approximately 40% of the remains of a skeleton were recovered. It took scientists weeks to confirm which species they belonged to.

Paleontologist Donald Johnson and his team concluded that the remains of bones discovered correspond to the species Australopithecus afarensis

, ancestor of Homo sapiens and that explains more clearly the relationship between the rest of primates and humans.

So was this Australopithecus

Lucy was a female who was just over a meter, she had legs very similar to those of humans, she lived for about 22 years and weighed about 28 kilos.

One of the most revealing characteristics of Lucy is that, being female, it was discovered that she had had children. How many children? It is not determined with determination, but it is estimated that she could have given birth to no less than three.

Lucy's name is not accidental. A team of paleontological researchers, in one of their activities in the African country of Ethiopia, discovered skeletal remains while listening to beatles music. The famous hit of Lucy in the sky of diamonds, and they found the prize. According to National Geographic sources, this fossil is 3.2 million years old.

Pre-Homo Sapiens

Another of the data to take into account is the evolutionary facet of the brain. It has been noted that the intelligence in Lucy Australopithecus was not too high. In regard to the size of the cranial cavity, and it was at the same level of development as that of a chimpanzee, a phenomenon that occurred due to Lucy's limited physical capacity to interact with her environment, with the impossibility of handling objects and constructing her reality.

On the other hand, the part of Africa where Lucy was discovered is where the most significant finds in this field have taken place. Much of the clues in the evolutionary chain lead there. After the discovery of this set of fossilized bones, some 300 fossils of 17 different individuals have been found.

• You may be interested: "Theories of human intelligence"

A fossil on international tour

Due to the great importance of the specimen on a scientific and historical level, Lucy is kept "under lock and key" in the Museum of Natural History in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia. Nothing and no one can approach him, as the remains are in an armored security camera, with private security guards and infrared cameras. On some occasions, attempts have been made to remove some pieces of the skeleton, especially in some years of internal conflict that put the museum's security on edge.

However, with the political stability in the African country consolidated, the Ethiopian government decided remove Lucy in 2007, organizing a costly and dangerous trip to the United States from America. The logistics were not without its dangers, so he opted to charter a private charter flight. The journey lasted 7 years, and different cities and states were able to meet Lucy first-hand.

The same happened with the former US president, when on an official visit to Ethiopia he was granted the privilege of visiting the chamber where Lucy rests. Not only this, but the authorities allowed them to directly caress the skeletal bones.