the world ' s oldest known child has been discovered in east africa in an era called appropriately as the cradle of humanity . the 3 . 3 - 700 - year - long fossilized toddler was discoveries in northern ethiopia ' s deserts off the huge rift valley ( emblem of egypt ) . the baby , belonging to the early human species australopithecus afarensis , is astonishing for its height and completeness , odd for a region spectacularly abundant in fossils of our immortal peoples , critics stated . the new object july even trump the superstar museum of the same species : " lucy , " a 3 . 2 - million - year - new adult boy unearthed briefly in 1974 that reshaped fantasies of humanity reproduction . ( related : " old discovery is missing link in human life , scientists say " [ april 2006 ] . ) .
Lucy fossils have been discovered 3.3 million years ago.