A World-Famous Fossil Has Been Digitally Remastered

A world-famous fossil named after the Beatles favorite, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" has been digitally remastered with 3D technology.

British researchers say the ancient human ancestor was more like us than first thought.

Until now, bare bones were all researchers had to work with to piece together whether a 3-million-year-old human ancestor named Lucy could move like we do. “Until the last few years we've not really had the technology to directly test it and that is what my muscle reconstructions do,” says University of Cambridge researcher, Dr. Ashleigh Wiseman.

Using scans of Lucy’s fossil and data form human muscles, Wiseman and her team reconstructed the skeleton’s missing soft tissues. “Muscles animate the body, they allow you to walk, run, jump, dance,” says Wiseman.

For decades, some experts argued Lucy walked in a crouching waddle, like chimpanzees. But after digitally modeling 36 muscles in each of her legs to analyze their shape and size, Dr. Wiseman is convinced Lucy was more advanced. “Lucy was very apt at walking around on two legs and then also was a very capable climber,” she says.

The famous fossil specimen was discovered in Ethiopia 50 years ago.

Wiseman says Lucy had powerful leg and pelvic muscles and strong knees too. “Those knee extensors in Lucy had the exact same capability as a modern human. They were the exact same,” says Wiseman.

Researchers hope to eventually create a full digital model of Lucy to learn more about the legendary species – including how fast she could walk.

With 40% of her skeleton recovered, Lucy is one of the most complete fossil specimens of her kind.

The research from the University of Cambridge is published in this month’s journal of Royal Society Open Science.