(CNN) – When Lucy Fossil best known in the world, was discovered in a stream of Ethiopia in 1974, provided a new perspective on the life of the first human ancestors ago 3180000 of years. The image of the skeleton was complete, which is estimated at 40% and is considered the best representation of their species, Australopithecus afarensis- became an icon.
But how ended in a stream? Lucy could be considered one of the oldest unsolved cases in the world
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Forty-two years after the discovery, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin now believe that found in the vicinity of where he died.
“When we think of any fossil we work, we know that in all cases came from an individual who born, raised, and then he died, “said John W. Kappelman, professor of anthropology and lead author of a new study on Lucy. “But it’s rarely the case that the skeleton actually preserve evidence of how the person died. What we propose here is the first hypothesis, and have had for 42 years, about how he died. I do not know anyone else who has done that. “
the original fossil and CT scans of fractures in the skeleton paint a more vivid than what happened in the last moments of life of Lucy portrait, and although it was probably fast, was not without pain . The new study hypothesizes that reads like a report of a coroner, so Lucy’s bones seem more real than ever.
What happened to Lucy?
Lucy was small, about one meter high and 27 kilos. The analysis of the skeleton and teeth shows that had reached maturity, but as chimpanzees, species matured young. Kappelman estimated was 15 or 16 years old.
Given its size, predators like hyenas, jackals and saber-toothed cats would have posed a threat to Lucy. So chances are that Lucy took refuge in trees, Kappelman said. It is possible that escalate only occasionally for security or nest in them every night. Based on data on the nesting habits of chimpanzees, an average height of 14 meters makes them feel safe.
Lucy stood standing up straight with feet, knees and similar hips ours. If I had seen walking in the distance, you might think that Lucy was a human being by its silhouette. But up close, had a small head, a comparable brain size to that of a chimpanzee, longer arms and hair covered his entire body.
Bridging the gap between human and chimpanzee, Lucy had fingers and toes slightly curved, with ankles and shoulders phones that provided more range of motion. Even with those skills, she would have been better walking to climbing.
Maybe Lucy was frightened by a predator, or maybe she was asleep or preparing for the night. Perhaps he saw some fruit and wanted to find food. Either way, this is what happened next Kappelman believes.
A 14 meters high, Lucy fell from his tree, fully conscious. He fell to the ground quickly to 56 kilometers per hour and hit the ground feet first, causing an impact through his body and created fractures in the ankles, knees, hips and shoulders. The internal organs were probably bugged by this “water hammer effect”. Lucy leaned forward and instinctively put his hands to break the fall, creating fractures in the bones of the arms as well. It would probably be his final act conscious.
He twisted his right, landing especially on that side. That turn broke his neck and tilted her head. Unconscious, broken and bleeding, he lays on the bed of a stream. If water was present at the time, gently he moved the body over a short distance, taking naturally to its final resting place as members of their own species did not.
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