How did Dr. Johanson know that Lucy was an adult and not a child?

Question

anthropology

gogogogo

Answer 1

In the bones of an adult, the growth plates are fused.  In a child, the growth plates have not knitted together with the long bone ends.  Also, the plates of the adult skull are fused together, the ones of a child are open and flexible.  These markers are evident even in very old fossilized bones.

Answer 2

Same way they knew she was a Lucy and not a Desi. A great deal of the bones were found which is why it is such a good discovery.  Good thing that "Lucy in the Sky" was the popular song and not "Lady Madonna."

Answer 3

They found the findings to be adult-like.

Answer 4

he didn't. he made up the entire freaking thing