Lucy the Australopithecus

evolution · human ancestors · fossils · Africa

Ancient bones found. In 1974, scientists in Ethiopia discovered the fossilized remains of Lucy, a female who lived about 3.2 million years ago. Her bones were so important because they showed us what our earliest human ancestors looked like.

Walked on two legs. Lucy had a special trait that made her different from apes: she walked upright on two legs, just like modern humans do. This skill was one of the first big steps that led to humans eventually evolving.

Found in Ethiopia. Lucy's bones were discovered at a place called Hadar in the Awash Valley, in northeastern Ethiopia in Africa. This region has turned out to be like an treasure chest of ancient human ancestor fossils.

Female and famous. Lucy was a female who stood about 3 feet 6 inches tall and weighed around 65 pounds, making her shorter and lighter than modern humans. She became one of the most famous fossils in the world and helped scientists understand our evolutionary story.

Forty percent preserved. The fossil collection included about 300 pieces of bone that made up roughly 40 percent of her skeleton. Even with only partial remains, scientists learned incredible things about how our ancestors lived and moved.