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Lucy: A 50-Year Legacy
The discovery of Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old hominin fossil, transformed our understanding of human evolution. This Q&A with the discoverer explores its lasting significance.
English
United States
ScienceLifestyleHistoryDiscoveryEvolutionAnthropology
CnnInstitute Of Human OriginsArizona State University
Don JohansonTom GrayMary Leakey
- How did Lucy get her name?
- Lucy's name came about serendipitously. While listening to the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," a team member suggested the name, which perfectly captured the discovery's charm and the excitement of the moment.
- What kind of environment did Lucy live in?
- Lucy's world was a mix of forested and open areas, not the open savanna initially envisioned. This suggests bipedalism might have developed in a more forested environment than previously believed.
- How long did it take to excavate Lucy's skeleton?
- The excavation of Lucy's remains took approximately 2 1/2 weeks. The team meticulously removed the top layer of sediment square by square, and carefully collected and cleaned the fragile fossilized bones.
- What was the impact of Lucy's discovery on the field of paleoanthropology?
- Lucy's discovery provided a pivotal benchmark in human origins research, proving that hominins walked upright much earlier than previously believed. While not a direct ancestor of modern humans, Lucy represents a key branch in the human family tree.
- What was the significance of Lucy's discovery for our understanding of human evolution?
- Lucy's discovery in 1974 revolutionized our understanding of human evolution, providing evidence that hominins walked upright 3.2 million years ago, a much earlier date than previously thought. Her skeleton, remarkably complete for its age, challenged existing theories about the development of bipedalism and brain size.