Chapter 1, Student Web Activities, The American Republic Since 1877, Glencoe, 2003

Social Studies, The American Republic Since 1877

Chapter 1: The First Humans, Prehistory–3500 B.C.
"Lucy"

Introduction
Louis B. Leakey once said, "Theories on prehistory and early man constantly change as new evidence comes to light." Discoveries by Leakey and his wife, Mary, resulted in some of the most important changes in our understanding of early human development. Some new ideas are so dramatic that they force us to adjust our view of the world. When this happens we say that a paradigm shift has occurred. As you will see in this activity, discoveries by the Leakey family continue to cause paradigm shifts.

Destination Title: The Leakey Foundation

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Directions

Start at the Leakey Foundation Web site.

Click on News & Events and then News Articles & Press Releases.
Scroll down to "Kenyan Fossil Finds Throw New Light on Human Evolution" and click on Read More.
Read the article, taking notes as you go. Also click on and read related articles.

After you have read the article, answer the following questions.

1. What did Meave Leakey discover in Kenya in 1998–99?

2. Who is "Lucy," and what is her relationship to Meave Leakey's discovery?

3. Starting in the 1980s, what was the most popular theory among archaeologists about human ancestry?

4. Explain how Meave Leakey's discovery could result in a paradigm shift.

5. Discuss as a class the meaning of Meave Leakey's discovery. Then, on a separate piece of paper, write a short paper summarizing the discussion. List the reactions of your group to Leakey's new theory. Were they willing to accept her theory? What compelling arguments are there for sticking with the previous "Lucy" theory? Expand your paper by thinking of ways in which future research and discovery might further alter our understanding.