“Lucy” Fossil travels to New York City

The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia will open in Times Square on June 24. The icon of paleoanthropology— the famous 3.2 million-year-old hominid known as Lucy — will be on display through Oct. 25, 2009.

“Recent scientific research conducted on Lucy illustrates that she still has stories to tell,” said Dirk Van Tuerenhout, curator of anthropology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. “Even though she lived more than 3 million years ago, Lucy continues to give us clues about what it means to be a human.”

With 40 percent of her skeleton intact, Lucy remains the oldest and most complete adult human ancestor retrieved from African soil. Other important paleoanthropological discoveries will also be represented including an overview of known fossils discovered in Africa, Asia and Europe which completes the current account of human evolution as it is known to scientists today, setting the stage for a more in-depth presentation of the importance of Ethiopia’s fossil record. 

Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia opens at Discovery Times Square Exposition™, a new state-of-the-art exhibition in the former printing presses building of The New York Times at 226 West 44th Street. 

“Over the past decade, wondrous exhibitions traveling the United States have bypassed New York time and again simply because no venue existed to host them,” said said James Sanna, President and Executive Producer of Running Subway Productions.   Discovery Times Square Exposition creates a world-class home in New York for great exhibitions that bring fascinating and engaging art and artifacts to light in dramatic immersive environments.  We look forward to enriching New York’s dynamic and unsurpassed cultural landscape.”  

More than 100 artifacts illuminate Ethiopia’s rich heritage. See early stone tools found in Ethiopia; a wide selection of objects from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church such as illuminated manuscripts and processional crosses; a selection of Korans from the holy city of Harar, the fourth most important site in Islam; and the first coins minted by an indigenous African civilization. Paintings, musical instruments, implements of daily use, a scale model of the famous Church of St. George in Lalibela and more will also be on display. 

In addition, meet Viktor Deak, one of the world’s leading paleoartists. Observe Deak at work, ask him questions and learn first-hand how he has merged his passions of science and art to communicate an understanding of our prehistoric past and see how he utilizes modern technology to re-create a vision of our beginnings more vivid than ever before. Visit the Lucy web site for a general schedule of Deak’s appearances. 

“We are very excited about the opportunity to introduce “Lucy” to the people of New York City because she evokes a strong response from everyone who sees her, and as such, she is the ultimate goodwill ambassador for Ethiopia,” said Joel A. Bartsch, president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.  “Lucy not only validates Ethiopia’s claim as the Cradle of Mankind, she also introduces viewers to the rich cultural heritage that has flourished in Ethiopia over the course of the last 3,000 years, and to the vibrant country that Ethiopia is today.”

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. It is nationally underwritten by The Smith Foundation and Ethiopian Airlines.