The famed fossil of Lucy, one of the oldest and most iconic human ancestors ever discovered, has been transported from Ethiopia to the Czech National Museum in Prague, where it will be on display for about two months, according to Ethiopian national media. Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa confirmed Lucy’s departure on Friday.
Lucy’s skeletal remains, which are about 40% complete, were unearthed in 1974 near an ancient lakebed in Ethiopia. The site also contained fossils of crocodiles, turtle eggs, and crab claws. Lucy belongs to the species Australopithecus afarensis, an early hominin that lived in Africa between 3 to 4 million years ago.
This marks only the second time Lucy has traveled outside Ethiopia, the first being in 2013 for a tour of the United States.
The current exhibition in Prague will also include Selam, a fossilized skeleton of an Australopithecus child discovered 25 years after Lucy in the same region. Selam is believed to be approximately 100,000 years older than Lucy.
Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University, said that Lucy’s significance belongs to all of humanity. “Sharing her with the rest of the world is something everyone should be able to experience,” he commented.
While this opportunity is seen by many experts as historic, some archaeologists have voiced concerns over the risks associated with moving Lucy’s fragile and irreplaceable bones.
Gidey Gebreegziabher, an archaeologist and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Warsaw, expressed worry about the effects of travel and exposure to new climate conditions on the preservation of Lucy’s remains. “The fragmented bones of Lucy are truly unique and need utmost care,” he said.
In Ethiopia, Lucy is usually kept in a secure vault at the National Museum of Ethiopia, with a replica displayed for visitors. Even most Ethiopians have rarely had a chance to view the actual fossil.
Haile-Selassie, however, reassured the public: “I’ve seen how she was packed, so I have no worries about anything happening to Lucy anymore.”
Still, the lack of public awareness about Lucy’s departure has stirred discontent among locals. Many were unaware she had left the country until the news surfaced on social media.
Bekele Reta, a resident living just 50 meters from the museum, learned about Lucy’s departure only after seeing a Facebook post. “It’s unfortunate that most Ethiopians only have the opportunity to see her showcased elsewhere,” he said.
Some critics have also raised concerns about transparency in how the government managed Lucy’s departure. Gebreegziabher remarked, “It seems the people are being left out of the story of their own heritage.”
Earlier this year, Michal Lukeš, Director General of the Czech National Museum, thanked the Ethiopian government for allowing Lucy and Selam to be part of the exhibition. “These priceless exhibits offer a rare look into our ancient past and help deepen our understanding of human origins,” Lukeš said.
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