Controversy about bringing prehistoric fossils Lucy out of Ethiopia

The Houston Museum of Natural Science in Texas (USA) has just announced in September 2007 that it will display real fossil bones, rather than molds of prehistoric Lucy of the Australopithecus family discovered in the Afar region of Ethiopia. This will be the first time Lucy leaves Ethiopia to be displayed in public.

The Houston Museum said it signed a deal last week with the Ethiopian government after four years of negotiations. The amount spent on this country has not been announced. About a dozen American museums will receive the exhibition entitled ' Lucy's Legacy: hidden newspapers in Ethiopia '. On this occasion, 190 fossils, artifacts and artifacts will be borrowed from the Addis-Abeba Museum for 6 years.

Lucy prehistoric fossil skeleton was discovered in Afar region in Ethiopia in 1974 (Photo: Les Neuhaus)

If some consider this a great opportunity to introduce Americans to human evolution, many paleontologists seek to oppose this trip. They are most worried that this precious challenge is at risk. This is the only fossil model that cannot be replaced.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington said they would refuse to display Lucy. ' Lucy can't leave Ethiopia, ' said the Smithsonian Museum.

Lucy's skeleton left Ethiopia once in 1974 and was brought to the United States for research by Donald Johanson, one of the people who discovered it. After it returns to motherland, paleontologists must move on their own to see Lucy ' real '. A copy of Lucy is displayed regularly at the Addis-Abeba Museum.

Scientists accuse it of a violation of a signed agreement in 1998 under the auspices of UNESCO . The organization recommends that fossils not be removed from the country of origin and suggested that copies be used in public exhibitions.

Project protesters worry that other countries like Kenya will imitate rare fossils from the country.

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