Anthropology

How does a fossil become a superstar? Just ask Lucy.

Discovered 50 years ago, the skeleton ushered in a new way of thinking about human evolution

reconstruction of the ancient hominid known as Lucy

The ancient hominid known as Lucy (reconstruction shown) is familiar to fans all around the world.

© Sculpture Elisabeth Daynes/Photograph Elisabeth Daynes

By Bruce Bower

Inside a specially constructed safe at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa sit the fragile remains of the world’s most celebrated human ancestor. She was once a hardy survivor in an unforgiving environment, but now her partial skeleton receives round-the-clock protection in a temperature-controlled setting.