Despite Criticism, Ancestor Lucy Begins 6-Year U.S. Tour

Aug. 28, 2007— -- Lucy, the world's most famoushuman ancestor, will go on public display for the first time inthe United States this week amid criticism that her 3.2 millionyear old bones are too fragile to withstand an 11-city tour.

Lucy's remains were unveiled to reporters during a newsconference on Tuesday at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.Under an undisclosed financial deal with Ethiopia, Houston isthe first stop on what is expected to be a six-year tour.

The public will be able to view Lucy beginning on Friday.

The exhibition, aimed at drumming up tourism in Ethiopia,has drawn criticism from scientists who say Lucy's bones maysuffer damage.

"I definitely think that Lucy should not have been sent toAmerica. ... Unique biological specimens and fossils such asLucy are for science and should be retained in their country oforigin," renowned paleontologist Richard Leakey told Reuters bytelephone.

"Nobody will benefit from Lucy's tour apart from Americanmuseums, which are exploiting Africa's resources," he said.

Some of the country's most prestigious museums, includingthe Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and theAmerican Museum of Natural History in New York have refused tohost the fossilized remains.

"We share our colleagues' concerns for the safety andsecurity of the fossil," said Joel Bartsch, president of theHouston museum. "Museums are in the business, quite frankly, oflending irreplaceable objects to each other all the time."

Local acceptance of the exhibit has been good, Bartschsaid, although one Ethiopian group based in Houston is planningto protest on Friday.

"Protesters are welcome. It's wonderful, they willpublicize it for us," Samuel Assefa, Ethiopia's U.S. ambassadorsaid at the news conference. "You know, I think it's evidenceof the importance of Lucy that protests take place."

The fossil was named Lucy after the Beatles song "Lucy inthe Sky with Diamonds," which played during a celebration ofthe discovery in Ethiopia by U.S. scientist Donald Johanson in1974. Ethiopians refer to her as "Dinkenesh."

The fossilized remains are considered one of the world'smost significant archeological finds. The hominoid skeleton,which is 40 percent complete, was a landmark in the search offor the origins of humanity.

Before agreeing to host the exhibit, the Houston museumsent a team of conservators to Ethiopia to determine whetherLucy's 76-piece skeleton was sturdy enough for travel.

Details of the remainder of the U.S. tour have not beendisclosed, but Bartsch said he has been in discussions withover two dozen museums interested in displaying the remains.