Image Gallery: 3-Year-Old Human Ancestor 'Selam' Revealed

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Dikika baby

Dikika, the site in northern Ethiopia where Selam's fossil was found in 2000. She is sometimes known as the "Dikika baby."

(Image credit: Courtesy of Zeresenay Alemseged)

Dikika, the site in northern Ethiopia where Selam's fossil was found in 2000. She is sometimes known as the "Dikika baby."

The 12th vertebra

A computer-generated image of Selam's 12th thoracic vertebra. The study confirms that australopiths had the same number of lumbar and thoracic vertebrae as humans.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Zeresenay Alemseged)

A computer-generated image of Selam's 12th thoracic vertebra. The study confirms that australopiths had the same number of lumbar and thoracic vertebrae as humans.

Selam's bones

All of Selam's bones, laid out in their anatomical positions.

(Image credit: Zeray Alemseged/University of Chicago)

All of Selam's bones, laid out in their anatomical positions. The young hominin is the same species as the famous A. afarensis "Lucy," who was discovered not far from Dikika in 1974. Lucy dates back to 3.2 million years ago, while Salem lived 3.3 million years ago.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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