Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI:THE human ancestor fossil known as Lucy left Ethiopia for display in a European museum, Ethiopian national media reported on August 15, citing Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa. Lucy’s skeleton, which is 40% complete, left Ethiopia and will be displayed at the Czech National Museum in Prague for approximately two months.
Lucy was recovered in Ethiopia in 1974 from what was an ancient lake near fossilized remains of crocodiles, turtle eggs and crab claws. She was a member of Australopithecus afarensis, an early human species that lived in Africa between about 4 million and 3 million years ago. This is the second time Lucy has left Ethiopia. The first was in 2013, when she toured the United States.
Lucy’s fragmented bones will be exhibited alongside Selam, the fossil of an Australopithecus baby that is about 100,000 years older than Lucy and was discovered in the region 25 years later. While many experts believe Lucy’s trip to Europe presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people in Europe and beyond, there are safety concerns about the transportation of her fragile bones.
Even in Ethiopia, the public has only occasionally seen the real Lucy fossil. At the National Museum of Ethiopia, a replica of Lucy is exhibited while the actual remains are stored in a secure vault.
Early this year, the director general of the Czech National Museum, Michal Lukeš, in a statement announcing the exhibition of Lucy and Selam, expressed his appreciation of the Ethiopians for agreeing to “lend” the remains. “These priceless exhibits give us a unique insight into the past and deepen our understanding of humanity’s roots,” said Lukeš.
