'Lucy' fossil discovered speaks at U.

More than 20 years ago, renowned anthropologist Donald Johanson found "Lucy" in East Africa -- the oldest and most complete fossilized human remains yet discovered. And yesterday, he visited the University to discuss the importance of physical anthropology and his own role in the field. "All of us as humans are extremely interested in our origins," Johanson said as he began his speech before an audience of more than 500 students and faculty in the Harrison Auditorium. Johanson is founder and president of the Institute of Human Origins, but is most well-known for his discovery of the Australopithecus afarensis fossil -- nicknamed "Lucy." In addition to his influential fieldwork, he recently helped produce a three-part edition of the Public Broadcasting Service documentary Nova, on human evolution. "He asks fundamental, simple and terrifying questions," School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rosemary Stevens said as she introduced Johanson. Fossils, Johanson explained, "are links that tie us to the natural world. "We tend to think -- as some social scientists do -- that we are superorganic," he said. "Biology didn't jump out the window when culture walked in the door." Johanson also addressed the omnipotence of nature and natural selection. "We are as much a product of evolution and accident as any other species," he said. "At least nature has been kind enough to leave -- in the fossil record -- a reminder." He also warned about the potential dangers of humanity's rapidly increasing dependency on technology. "There is so much more to being human than technology and biology," he said. "There is an element in our lives that our descendants may not have." Using slides, he outlined the history of physical anthropology, tracing its beginnings to what he called Charles Darwin's "grand unified theory of biology." He then related the history of human evolution in the Rift Valley system of Africa, where all Australopithecus fossils have been found. Johanson also related an anecdote about when he disputed a fleshed-out re-creation of an Australopithecus robustus, which he felt was too intimidating and intelligent-looking to be the vegetarian species these fossils are commonly believed to have been. "It doesn't take a lot of brain matter to run down a bush," he quipped. He also explained in detail his experience working on the dig that led to the discovery of "Lucy," pointing out the difficulty of fossil hunting in the wastes of East Africa's Afar region.