ABSTRACT
T he area of Hadar first made headlines in the 1970s with the discovery of the most famous of the Australopithecine fossil remains, nicknamed “Lucy” by the paleoanthropologist who discovered her, Dr. Donald Johanson. Lucy was one of the most complete fossil skeleton hominids ever recovered. She was a rarity in a world where modern fossil hunters or paleontologists celebrated even an occasional tooth find. Her incredible state of completeness and preservation hinted at just how special Hadar would become as a source for hominid prehistory and history. Lucy continues to be the unofficial “spokesperson” for Hadar and its unparalleled ability to help us address what it means to be human.
