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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The famed hominid fossil known as “Lucy” has left Ethiopia for a temporary exhibition at the Czech National Museum in Prague, according to Ethiopian national media reports citing Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa. The 3.2 million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis skeleton, which is 40% complete, will be on display for approximately two months. This marks Lucy’s second international trip, following a 2013 tour of the United States.
Lucy’s remains, discovered in Ethiopia in 1974, will be showcased alongside “Selam,” the fossil of an Australopithecus baby discovered in the same region. Selam predates Lucy by approximately 100,000 years.
Yohannes Haile-Selassie, director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University, emphasized the significance of sharing this iconic specimen with the world. “As an iconic specimen, she belongs to the whole world,” Haile-Selassie stated.
However, the decision to transport Lucy’s fragile bones has raised concerns among some experts. Gidey Gebreegziabher, an archaeologist and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Warsaw, noted the inherent risks associated with transporting such delicate remains, particularly the potential impact of varying climate conditions.
Adding to the controversy, Lucy’s departure appears to have been shrouded in secrecy. Many Ethiopians, who consider Lucy a source of national pride, were reportedly unaware of the move until after it occurred.
Bekele Reta, an Addis Ababa resident living near the National Museum of Ethiopia where Lucy is typically housed, expressed his disappointment, learning of her departure via social media. “It’s unfortunate that most Ethiopians only have the opportunity to see her showcased elsewhere,” he remarked.
Even within Ethiopia, public access to the authentic Lucy fossil is limited, with a replica displayed in the museum while the original remains are kept in a vault.
While the Czech National Museum’s director general, Michal Lukeš, has expressed gratitude to Ethiopia for the loan, the lack of transparency surrounding Lucy’s departure has sparked criticism and questions about the government’s handling of its cultural heritage.