On this night in science
Lucy is found
November 24, 1974
On this day in 1974, scientists searching a dry gully in Ethiopia spotted a small bone, and then many more. They belonged to Lucy, one of the oldest and most complete skeletons ever found of an early relative of humans, from more than three million years ago.
Why it mattered
Lucy's bones showed that our ancient relatives walked upright on two legs long before they had big brains. Her name came from a song the team played over and over that night.
Wonder together
If you found a very old bone in the ground, how do you think you could tell how old it was?
Where this comes from