Afarensis Research Paper

The findings that I will be discussing are that of A. Afarensis. The findings include a complete fossilized skull, pelvis and partial foot and shin. The original findings of A. Afarensis were consistent of a 40% complete skeleton given the name Lucy was found in Ethiopia in 1974 by Don Johnson of the institute of human origins . The fossil contained a small skull with a cranial capacity ranging from 425cm3 to 500cm3, various teeth, and other various fragments estimated around 3.7MYA. The individual was considered either a female by some or a small variant of A. Afarensis. With the newest find, it is concluded was that the new finds are indeed A. Afarensis but from a larger individual. Suggesting that A. Afarensis was sexually dimorphic or the original find was a young individual . The complete skull was found in Ethiopia near the same area as the first find in 1974. Around the site were many In the new find has reviled that the maxim cranial capacity is approximately 495cm3 to 550cm3, Still keeping it within the range of the Australopithecus genre. This skull has defined nuchal cresting and, with the new find, a more dish like face. Making it seem closer to that of the Paranthropus genera. The skull also gives us incite to how

Afarensis and the later finds of the Australopithecus genera is a very controversial and fragile area. With limited knowledge and only partially complete fossils of individuals from over 4.2MYA, it is difficult to nail down how many species any genera had. Even now there are still fossils that lay dormant in the earth. It is up to the anthropologist to uncover the pieces of the past and put them together to determine our lineage from long ago. A. Afarensis has traits resembling both human and ape like traits only clouds the question more. As an anthropologist myself I hope that one day I will be able to make ground breaking discoveries and further find the dormant pieces lying in the earth to answer the questions of where we came