World's Most Famous Fossil 'Lucy' Debuts at Houston Museum of Natural Science

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ethiopia is the cradle of mankind, the birthplace of coffee, the purported resting place of the Ark of the Covenant—and home to legions of Bob Marley fans. Discover five million years of this country’s diverse history and culture in the world premiere exhibition Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia, on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science from Aug. 31, 2007 – April 20, 2008.

“Anyone can make a copy. But the experience of standing before an authentic historical artifact, whether ancient parchments or multi-million-year-old fossils, is a call to the intellect, to discover more about the world.”

The exhibition will include the original fossilized remains of the 3.2-million-year-old hominid known as Lucy. With 40 percent of her skeleton intact, Lucy remains the oldest and most complete adult human ancestor fully retrieved from African soil. Other important paleoanthropological discoveries will also be represented to complete the current account of human evolution as known to scientists today.

“The display of original artifacts is crucial to the educational impact of museum exhibitions,” said Joel A. Bartsch, president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. “Anyone can make a copy. But the experience of standing before an authentic historical artifact, whether ancient parchments or multi-million-year-old fossils, is a call to the intellect, to discover more about the world.”

The exhibition also explores Ethiopia’s recorded human history. More than 100 artifacts illuminate Ethiopia’s rich heritage, including fossils, historical manuscripts, paintings, coins, musical instruments, religious artifacts and more.

“Ethiopia's natural diversity extends to the plurality of its peoples,” said His Excellency Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. “Her people speak more than 80 languages. Judaism, Christianity, Islam and a number of traditional indigenous beliefs have peacefully coexisted for millennia. These deep-rooted values have made Ethiopia a country known for its proverbial hospitality.”

Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia is an international exhibition organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Exhibition Coordinating Committee.

National funding for Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia is provided by The Smith Foundation and Ethiopian Airlines. Local funding is provided by BP and The Hamill Foundation.

Tickets are available at www.hmns.org.