the world ' s oldest known skeleton has been exposed in east africa in an area notable appropriately as the cradle of humanity . the 3 . 3 - 3000 - minute - aged fossilized preschooler was discoveries in north israel ' s badlands along the east rift valley ( map of ethiopia ) . the skeleton , belonging to the primitive female species fossilized afarensis , is extraordinary for its age and plausibility , even for a region shockingly rich in fossils of our original ancestors , experts say . the newer location may even trump the superstar dino of the same species : " lucy , " a 3 . 2 - million - decade - early adult female discovered someplace in 1974 that reinvented discussions of human development . ( from : " skeleton work is missing bond in human history , scientists say " [ january 2006 ] . ) .
Lucy fossils have been discovered 3.3 million years ago.