Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a country in east Africa, divided by the Great African Rift valley. It is home to the lake that is the source of the Blue Nile, Lake Tana

Ethiopia, the country believed by many Africans to be the mystical homeland of the African peoples, is definitely home to one of the world's most valuable fossil sources.

Ethiopia: Map courtesy of National Geographic

Hadar:
"The First Family"
Species:
Australopithecus afarensis (Debatable)
Age:
3,2 million years old
Description:
13 individuals were found, that looked like primitive hominids
Who:
Donald Johansen’s Team
When:
1975
Species:
Australopithecus afarensis
Age:
3,4 million years old
Description:
Partial pieces of both legs and a complete knee joint
Who:
Donald Johansen
When:
1973
Species:
Australopithecus afarensis
Age:
3 million years old
Description:
A very complete afarensis skull, with a brain capacity of 550cc
Who:
Bill Kimbel and Yoel Rak
When:
1991

"Lucy"
Species:
Australopithecus afarensis
Age:
2,3 million years old
Who:
Donald Johansen and Tom Gray
When:
1974
Lucy, after she'd been put back together: courtesy The Making of Mankind Lucy is believed to have been a female Australopithecine who lived three million years ago beside a lake in Ethiopia. Approxiamately 40% of the of the skeleton was recovered, making it the most complete skeleton of a Homonid at the time. The shape of the pelvic bone indicated that the specimen was female, while one can see that she walked upright by studying the leg bones. It was estimated by studying her teeth that she was approx. 20 years old when she died.