On 15 August, a plane arrived in Prague carrying fossils of human ancestors over three million years old. This remarkable collection includes the fossils of Lucy, a female Australopithecus afarensis, and Selam, a child of the same species. These significant exhibits will be on display at the National Museum in Prague from 25 August to 23 October, marking their first presentation in Europe.
Lucy, a fossil that is approximately 3.2 million years old, was discovered over five decades ago by paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson in Ethiopia. She was named in reference to the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. She is known in Ethiopia as Dinkinesh, meaning “you are beautiful.” Lucy is estimated to have stood about 106 centimetres tall and weighed around 28 kilograms. Her skeletal features indicate that she walked upright, establishing a connection to modern humans.
Selam, discovered in 2000 in Dikika, Ethiopia, is similarly well-preserved and dates from approximately 3.3 to 3.2 million years ago. This fossil was found near Lucy’s site. The exhibits are being loaned to the Czech Republic by the Ethiopian National Museum, following the expressed interest and efforts of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
“The Czech Republic will become the first European country where visitors can meet Lucy. I am truly happy about that,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala posted today on X on 4 February 2025.
“I am pleased that during my visit to Ethiopia in the fall of 2023, we managed to arrange for the Lucy and Selam fossils to be exhibited in Prague. This is an absolutely unique event, because the original fossil will be exhibited to the public for the first time in Europe. I would like to thank Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Minister Selamawit Kassa for lending us the most valuable exhibits of Ethiopia’s national cultural heritage to the Czech Republic. I greatly appreciate it,” said Prime Minister Petr Fiala, explaining in his post.
Scientists from the National Museum, in collaboration with the Czech Embassy in Addis Ababa, have engaged in a significant project involving the loan of notable fossil remains. This matter was a focal point during Deputy Prime Minister Marian Jurečka‘s meeting in Ethiopia last December.
“I am extremely happy that we managed to obtain such an exceptional loan, which really does not happen every day. Lucy and Selam are unique documents about our civilisation and our own history in all possible dimensions and dimensions,” emphasised the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, Martin Baxa, on 4 February.
The National Museum is set to unveil a new permanent exhibition entitled “People,” which aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of anthropology and prehistory in the Czech Republic. This exhibition will include hyper-realistic models, featuring a representation of the renowned fossil Lucy, designed by architect Petr Janda.
This partnership between the Czech Republic and Ethiopia signifies the commencement of a mutual commitment to advancing museum development in both nations.
Many experts view Lucy’s transportation to Europe as a unique opportunity for educational engagement; however, there are legitimate concerns regarding the safety of transporting her fragile skeletal remains.
Gidey Gebreegziabher, an archaeologist and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Warsaw, Poland, has noted that Lucy will encounter varying climate conditions during her journey, which may pose challenges to her preservation.
Also, in Ethiopia, the public has had limited opportunities to view the original Lucy fossil. Currently, a replica is on exhibit at the National Museum of Ethiopia, while the actual remains are safeguarded in a secure vault.
Earlier this year, Michal Lukeš, the Director General of the Czech National Museum, expressed his appreciation to the Ethiopian authorities for their willingness to “lend” the remains in a formal announcement regarding the forthcoming exhibition of Lucy and Selam.
“Welcoming Lucy and Selam to its premises is the dream of every museum in the world. This dream is now starting to come true for the National Museum. Some of the most valuable exhibits on our planet provide us with a unique view into the past and allow us to understand humanity’s roots better. I greatly appreciate the trust and friendliness of the Ethiopian side. The opportunity to exhibit these world-class unique items in the Czech Republic on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition section Man and His Predecessors is a great honour and obligation for us, but also proof that the National Museum is among the top museum institutions,” said Michal Lukeš.
This is Lucy’s second departure from Ethiopia; her first was in 2013, during a tour of the United States.
