Lucy represents in fact less than the half part of a complete Australopithecus afarensis’ skeleton and it was discovered back in 1974 in the Awash Valley from Ethiopia’s Afar Depression. The International Afar Research Expedition that discovered the skeleton was directed by Maurice Taieb and co-directed by Donald Johanson and Yves Coppens. Johanson has said regarding the recently started tour that he fears the hominid’s partial skeleton will be damaged during the tour. And Donald Johanson is not the only one who has been criticizing the Ethiopian government’s decision.

But, despite the scientific arguments, Lucy has reached for the first time the United States. Starting with Friday, the famous fossil could be seen at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The next stops that have been planned for Lucy’s six-year tour have been yet disclosed, but there will be 10 cities in total that will welcome the skeleton. The Smithsonian National Museum of National History, however, has been one of the museums that have refused to participate in the tour.

Through this tour, Lucy will bravely serve her country, as Ethiopia aims to raise funds from the American tour of the skeleton. The scientists have been assured that she will travel safely, but this hasn’t made the Ethiopian government’s move less open to criticism.