For most, it is a once in a lifetime experience. This is especially true since this has never been done before.
What I am talking about is the special exhibit at the Pacific Science Center: Lucy’s Legacy. For the first time ever, the government of Ethiopia has allowed the prehistoric remains discovered in its land to be shown in a traveling exhibit. Given that few of us will ever venture across the seas to see such a find, it is very surprising that so few are taking advantage of this when it is right in our own backyard.
It may be that people find it hard to get excited about some bone fragments. That is understandable. In fact, for those who watch the TV show, “Bones,” it will look like something from that: a table with pieces arranged in the semblance of a skeleton of the body. Still, there is a big difference: these bones are fossils, 3.2 million years old, not the vestiges of a modern-day person.
We took some time last week and saw the show.
The exhibit starts with the history of Ethiopia, which is fascinating in and of itself. There is a “cave” complete with drawings, a replica of a stone obelisk and timelines that put Ethiopia’s history in context with the rest of major moments in humankind. There are artifacts from the last 5,000 years highlighting the power and influence of the area at that time.
It is a country that has more than 84 languages spoken. Considering there are countries that cannot even tolerate 2 languages, let alone 84, it is quite impressive to realize they manage to coexist.
It also has been home to Jews, Christians and Muslims. In fact, the Ark of the Covenant, (yes, that one) is claimed by a church in Axum to be within its confines. An ancient language, an offshoot of Hebrew and Aramaic, is still used today in an old branch of Christianity. There is a recording of a member of that church reciting some of their Bible. To those in the Jewish community, it sounds just like someone who chants Torah.
There is also information and displays about current day Ethiopia from food to clothing to household items. There are numerous heritage sites and a great deal of pride in being the only African nation to not succumb to European colonization.
But, that is all just the lead up to the big draw, Lucy’s remains. The story of the find is almost a fairy tale. It is told in a video by the man who found it: newly minted paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson was on his way back for the night when something caught the corner of his eye. It turned out to be a piece of Lucy. And, as they say, the rest is history.
There are a number of things remarkable about this find, not the least of which is that it forced the paleontology community to revise its view of the development of humankind. It is also an extremely intact skeleton – nearly 40 percent of the bones were recovered. They even explain why the find is called Lucy and what that has meant to the discovery.
Looking at fossils may not seem like the most exciting thing to see but this is really something that should not be missed. It is an opportunity to see where we have come from and what has changed since then. It is a well done exhibit and it is a shame that people are not taking advantage of this unique opportunity.
(I do have a disclaimer – my husband and I are members of the Pacific Science Center. We have no vested interest in PSC and Lucy’s Legacy. I write this with no knowledge by anyone connected with PSC that I am doing so.)
