Lucy, our ancient human ancestor, was super buff

The unique hominid ‘likely walked and moved in a way that we do not see in any living species today.’

The calves and thighs of the Australopithecus afarensis were more than twice the size of those of modern humans. Dave Einsel/Getty Images

In late November 1974, the world of archeology changed when scientists discovered Lucy (a nod to a famous Beatles track played over and over at the dig site), a 40-percent complete fossil of a young female Australopithecus afarensis in Ethiopia. This species of ancient hominid was living and walking around on two feet in East Africa 3.7 to 3 million years ago, long before the earliest stone tools were made. While Lucy and her relatives were shorter, more ape-like, and had smaller brains than Homo sapiens, they showed just how long human-like creatures were evolving and strolling about on Earth.

Just recently, scientists uncovered that Lucy, whose remains are housed in a specially constructed safe in the National Museum of Ethiopia, may have been even more like us than we thought—and considerably more muscular in the legs department. According to a new paper published on June 13 in the journal Royal Society Open Science, Lucy could walk around upright just as well as a person.

Previously, paleoanthropologists disagreed on Lucy’s bipedal stance. Some thought she likely waddled around with her back hunched over, not unlike today’s chimpanzees. However, Ashleigh Wiseman, a paleoanthropology research associate at the University of Cambridge, created 3D models of the leg and pelvis muscles of the 3.2 million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis. After recreating 36 muscles in each of the ancient hominids’ legs, she found that Lucy’s stance was quite similar to humans.


A 3D polygonal model, guided by imaging scan data and muscle scarring, reconstructing the lower limb muscles of the Australopithecus afarensis fossil AL 288-1, known as ‘Lucy’. Credit: Dr Ashleigh Wiseman
Not only could she walk like a Homo sapien, but she was considerably more muscular than us—her calves and thighs were more than twice the size of those of modern humans. Her thighs in particular were made up of 74 percent muscle, compared to the average 50 percent split between fat and muscle in our species today.

This shouldn’t be too surprising, however, given the world ancient hominids lived in. To manage life in East Africa 3 million years ago, Lucy and her cousins would’ve had to roam wooded grasslands, while swiftly switching to climbing forest canopies, Wiseman said in a statement.

“We are now the only animal that can stand upright with straight knees. Lucy’s muscles suggest that she was as proficient at bipedalism as we are, while possibly also being at home in the trees,” Wiseman added. “Lucy likely walked and moved in a way that we do not see in any living species today.”

3D models have previously been used to reconstruct the muscles of other lost species. In fact, Wiseman mentions that the method has helped paleontologists figure out the shockingly slow running speeds of T. rexes. But recreating the builds of our ancestors lets us see how far we’ve come—and how much muscle we’ve lost as our lifestyles have shifted.

“Of course, in the fossil record we are left looking at the bare bones,” Wiseman told CNN. “But muscles animate the body—they allow you to walk, run, jump and even dance. So, if we want to understand how our ancestors moved, we first need to reconstruct their soft tissues.”

Related Posts

Sergio Perez Now Faces a Significant New Obstacle in His Bid to Secure a Seat with Cadillac for the 2026 Formula 1 Season, Raising Doubts About His Future in the Sport as This Challenge Could Have Serious Implications for His Prospects in the Highly Competitive F1 World.

Sergio Perez would have been looking on at what’s happening at Red Bull Racing this week with great interest after losing his seat on the grid at…

Helmut Marko has issued an official statement regarding the future of Red Bull Racing, providing insights into the team’s plans following the shock removal of Christian Horner from his position. The decision has sent ripples throughout the Formula 1 world, and Marko’s comments aim to clarify Red Bull’s next moves.

Photo: © IMAGO Red Bull F1 advisor Helmut Marko has opened up on the team’s future following the shock dismissal of Christian Horner. Horner was removed from his…

The FIA’s Penalty Controversy That Cost Oscar Piastri a Well-Deserved Win: An In-Depth Look at the Decision That Shook the Racing World.

Lando Norris Triumphs at Silverstone, but Was Oscar Piastri’s 10-Second Penalty Fair? The 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a spectacle, with Lando Norris emerging victorious…

Christian Horner ‘Convinced’ Ferrari Move Depends on One Key Factor as Scuderia Targets Red Bull’s Ex-Chief.

Christian Horner might not have to wait long to receive offers to return to Formula 1 after Red Bull Racing sacked the Briton from his role as…

Ferrari Finally Opens Up About the Shocking and Unexpected Challenges Behind Their Struggles in Formula 1, Revealing the Complex Factors That Have Contributed to Their Ongoing Performance Issues, and What They Plan to Do to Overcome These Obstacles and Return to Their Former Glory in the F1 World.

Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 Season: The Road to Recovery The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a year of highs and lows for Scuderia Ferrari, with the…

The Surprising Impact of Christian Horner’s Red Bull Decision: Why George Russell May Lose the Most

The news that Red Bull Racing have parted ways with team principal Christian Horner took the Formula 1 world by surprise on Wednesday morning. Red Bull and Christian Horner are…