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Prague, Czech Republic – Two of Ethiopia’s most iconic ancestral remains, Lucy and Selam, have touched down in Europe for a rare exhibition at the National Museum in Prague, drawing global attention to Ethiopia’s role as the cradle of humankind.
The fossils, flown in on a special Ethiopian Airlines flight, received meticulous care upon arrival at Václav Havel International Airport before being escorted to the museum. For the next two months, they will be displayed under the watchful protection of URNA, the Czech Republic’s elite rapid response unit—an extraordinary level of security usually reserved for embassies in war zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq.
Who Are Lucy and Selam?
- Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis, 3.2 million years old)
Discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia’s Afar region, Lucy is one of the oldest and most complete hominid skeletons ever found. Standing just over one meter tall, she walked upright, offering groundbreaking proof of early human evolution. Her discovery reshaped our understanding of human ancestry and made Ethiopia central to paleoanthropology. - Selam (Australopithecus afarensis, 3.3 million years old)
Nicknamed “the world’s oldest child,” Selam was unearthed in Dikika, Ethiopia, in 2000. The fossilized skeleton of the three-year-old girl includes a remarkably preserved skull, collarbones, and even parts of the spine. Selam revealed how young hominids grew and adapted, providing crucial insights into the evolution of childhood.
Extraordinary Security for Extraordinary Heritage
While Prague is considered one of Europe’s safest capitals, the deployment of URNA highlights the immense cultural and scientific value of these remains. With only about 100 members, URNA’s presence underscores how seriously the Czech Republic treats the responsibility of hosting these irreplaceable treasures.
For visitors, the exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Lucy and Selam—fossils that tell the story of humanity’s earliest steps—safely displayed at the heart of Central Europe.
