In November 1974, a major discovery in Ethiopia revolutionized our understanding of human origins: the fossilized remains of a young woman, nicknamed Lucy, were unearthed by a team led by paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson. This skeleton, which dates back 3.2 million years, is one of the most complete ever discovered of an ancient human species, theAustralopithecus afarensis. Since then, Lucy has become a science icon. But beyond its importance for the study of evolution, what do we know about the last moments of its life? Thanks to the discoveries of researchers, we can today sketch the fascinating and tragic picture of his final day.
A perilous daily life in the savannah
The Ethiopian savannah, 3.2 million years ago, was a demanding and unpredictable environment. In addition to predators, such as big cats and crocodiles, Lucy also had to face the dangers of a fluctuating climate that alternated periods of drought and violent precipitation. These extreme conditions forced the Australopithecus afarensis to constantly adapt by finding varied sources of water and food.
Its small size, although limiting its chances of physical defense, allowed it a certain agility, valuable for escaping predators or quickly climbing trees. These arboreal refuges were essential, especially during nights when the ground became particularly dangerous.
Additionally, its anatomy reveals a fascinating compromise between bipedalism and arboreal capabilities. By walking on two legs, Lucy could monitor her surroundings at eye level and travel long distances in search of food, an advantage in varied habitats. However, its ability to climb also testified to the importance of trees as sanctuaries and sources of food.
A rudimentary social and family life
The communities ofAustralopithecus afarensis operated according to social patterns which, although rudimentary compared to those of modern humans, were probably essential to their survival. The relatively small size of these groups allowed a balance between protection and mobility. Too large a community would indeed have been difficult to feed, while too small a group would have increased the risks from predators.
Lucy may have established close ties with certain members of her group such as female relatives or allies. Social behaviors, such as grooming or occasional food sharing, although difficult to prove for its species, are also suggested by observations of modern primates. These interactions could thus reflect the first signs of more advanced social cooperation.
Young people had to occupy a central place in the life of the group. If Lucy had a child, she would likely have benefited from occasional community assistance, a potential precursor to the mutual aid systems that characterized later hominids. The small difference in size between males and females, relatively rare among primates, could also indicate a more egalitarian social organization than expected.
A death by the water?
Two main theories attempt to explain the circumstances of his death. The first, put forward by Donald Johanson, suggests that Lucy would have been attacked by a large predator. She would thus have started her last day like the others by probably waking up in a nest of branches built in a tree. After a night sheltered from nocturnal predators, she would have come down to join the members of her group and go in search of food. We imagine that she may have found herself alone or in a small group as she approached the banks of a lake or river to drink or explore the surroundings. Lucy was then allegedly attacked by a crocodile. A tooth mark on his pelvis, unhealed, indicates an injury inflicted just before or after his death, perhaps by an animal in search of prey.
The second theory, developed in 2016, nevertheless proposes a different ending: a fall from a tree. Fractures observed on his shoulder, ribs and knees indicate a violent impact compatible with a fall from a considerable height. Perhaps tired after a tiring day, Lucy had dozed off on a branch and lost her balance. Trees were indeed both refuges and places of risk. A fatal fall from this height would then have resulted in brief but intense agony.
The loneliness of the last moments
In the moments following her injury or fall, Lucy would have been in dire straits. Its apparent isolation could reflect a temporary separation from its group, perhaps during solitary or small group exploration. Another possibility is that she was left alone after her accident, her condition preventing others from staying by her side any longer.
The behaviors of modern primates offer intriguing parallels. In chimpanzees, for example, members of a group often examine a dying or deceased conspecific by displaying attentive gestures that suggest a primitive understanding of death. Among Lucy and her family, such behaviors could have existed, although they were limited by a priority to collective survival.
If her group had abandoned her, this choice would have been pragmatic, dictated by the relentless laws of natural selection. Yet the simple idea that his peers were able to observe his death, even briefly, adds a poignant dimension to this final scene.
