Today’s Google logo has been replaced with an animated Doodle marking the 41st anniversary of the “Lucy” discovery — an anthropological dig that unearthed the skeletal remains of a female Australopthicus dating back 3.2 million years.
Found in Afar Triangle near Hadar, Ethiopa, Lucy was discovered by a team of scientist assembled by Yves Coppens, Maurice Taieb and Donald Johanson. The fossils accounted for 40 percent of the skeletal remains — the most complete specimen of an Australopithecus ever found — and shed light on human evolution.
In the coming months and years, this find would upend our understanding of bipedalism, and rewrite a significant chapter in the story of human evolution.
Designed by Kevin Laughlin, the Doodle is displayed on Google home pages across the globe and links to a search for “Who Is Lucy The Australopithecus.” According to Google, its Lucy Doodle aims to recognized the historic anniversary by bringing Lucy — and her upright gait — to life.
Here’s today’s fully animated Lucy Doodle:
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.