Addis Ababa: American paleoanthropologist Professor Donald Johanson stated that the discovery of Lucy (Dinknesh) serves as a benchmark and reference for the study of human origins.

The 50th anniversary of Lucy’s skeletal remains discovery was celebrated under the theme “Half a Century of a Remarkable Finding” in Addis Ababa at the Adwa Victory Memorial, in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh, ministers, and Professor Donald Johanson, who discovered Lucy’s remains, along with other experts from various parts of the world, participated in the event.

On the occasion, Professor Donald Johanson remarked that Ethiopia is an admirable country for many reasons. He emphasized that we should all appreciate Ethiopia, particularly for its contribution to our understanding of human evolution.

The researcher stated that everyone should take pride in this unparalleled heritage site for human origins. Johanson also mentioned that even after 50 years, Lucy continues to ignite
interest in discovering human origins.

The professor highlighted that Lucy serves as a scientific benchmark and reference for the study of human origins, opening new doors in the field of human evolution research.

Lucy’s discovery strongly supports the existence of a common origin for deeply rooted lineages within Africa, he pointed out.

President of the East African Association of Paleoanthropology and Paleontology, Jackson Njau noted that Lucy’s discovery has inspired a deeper understanding of human historical origins. He emphasized that such fossils provide valuable insights into the current and future evolution of humans.

Njau stressed the importance of valuing fossil discoveries and raising public awareness about the archaeological heritage in the region.

He also expressed gratitude to the Ethiopian government for organizing such a successful event.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency