Prague Museum of Czech Republic to host display of 3.2 million year old Lucy

Addis Ababa, February 4, 2025 (FMC) – In a historic first in Europe, the bone fragments of Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old human ancestor rarely seen outside Ethiopia, will be showcased in Prague later this year, announced Minister of Tourism, Selamawit Kassa and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in a joint statement today.

“We are very pleased to collaborate with the Government of Czech Republic to showcase Lucy and Selam, two of Ethiopia’s priceless fossil remains at the National Museum of the Czech Republic starting from August 25, 2025. This historic exhibition is titled ‘Human Origins and Fossils’ and it will offer tourists and researchers a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these priceless fossils firsthand and a better insight into why Ethiopia is dubbed as the land of origins,” Ethiopia’s Minister of Tourism, Selamawit Kassa stated.

“This is the inaugural display of Lucy’s skeletal remains in Europe,” Prime Minister Petr Fiala revealed to reporters, highlighting the rare loan agreement with Ethiopia’s National Museum.”

The exhibition will also display Selam, the fossil of a baby Australopithecus discovered in the same region 25 years later, considerably older than Lucy at about 100,000 years.

Lucy’s remains include fossilized dental fragments, skull pieces, and parts of the pelvis and femur. Recognized for walking on two legs, Lucy is believed to have lived between the ages of 11 and 13, which is regarded as adulthood for her species.

Discovered in Ethiopia in 1974, the Australopithecus Afarensis remains of Lucy represented the most complete fossil find of its time, significantly enhancing world’s understanding of human ancestry.