History buffs and people alike will now be able to meet the 3.2-million-year-old fossil at the Dubai Expo 2020 as the world’s oldest fossil of a human ancestor will be at display.

The oldest known sister to the human race, aged 3.2 million years old named Lucy, will be on display at the Ethiopian pavilion, informed Ambassador Jerusalem Amdemariam Tadesse, Consul-General of Ethiopia.

Named by anthropologist Donald Johanson and his student Tom Gray, the fossil was discovered in 1974 among a maze of ravines at Hadar in northern Ethiopia.

When reconstructed, the skeleton composed of about a petite female with an ape-sized brain who stood just over one metre tall. Johanson named Lucy’s species Australopithecus afarensis, which means ‘southern ape of Afar’.

The visitors at the Expo 2020 will get an opportunity to see the oldest human fossil and other ancient treasures that are some of Ethiopia’s rich prehistoric and paleontological heritage.

The fossil, located at the Opportunity District of the Ethiopian pavilion has been divided into three zones — Origin of Now, Origin of Opportunity and Origin of Us.

The first zone will showcase the Cave of Information that will take visitors into a low dark space. The walls and ceiling of the cave will be covered with ancient symbols, images and screens showing Ethiopia’s history as the cradle of mankind.

The second zone will also showcase textile manufacturing techniques and Ethiopian products such as Teff and sesame seeds.

The third zone will have traditional Ethiopian games, ranging from classic Gerbeta board game to Sengo Maksengo. In the same space, visitors will also learn about the culture and history of Ethiopia including coffee-making, its gift to mankind.

“Ethiopia is as old as time itself. It is the cradle of humanity where humans first began to walk upright. Our pavilion will showcase Ethiopia as a land of origins and opportunities,” Ambassador Jerusalem Amdemariam Tadesse, told Khaleej Times.

“Our presence in the Expo 2020 has aimed at positioning Ethiopia as a safe, unique and diverse tourist destination, promoting the wide range of export products that Ethiopia is offering to the world and introducing the untapped investment opportunities in our country,” she added.