The upper part of the Pliocene Hadar Formation, central Afar, Ethiopia, has yielded a 40% complete fossil hominid skeleton (A.L. 288-1, "Lucy"). This specimen is described in detail and selected measurements and illustrations are provided.

The fossil hominid hand bone collection from the Pliocene Hadar Formation, Ethiopia, is described anatomically. These hand bones, all from A.L. (Afar Locality) 333 and 333w, constitute the largest sample of hominid manus remains thus far recovered from the Plio-Pleistocene of Africa.The Hadar hominid hand bones constitute the most compete collection yet recovered from any African Plio-Pleistocene site. They are assigned to Australopithecus afarensis (Johanson et al., 1978;Johanson and White, 1979) The Hadar assemblage markedly increases the Plio-Pleistocene hominid manus fossil record and includes several elements previously unrecovered: complete hamate, pisiform, and second, third, and fourth metacarpals. The collection is also unique among African remains because there are abundant clearly associated cranial and postcranial specimens of A. afarensis. Another significant feature of these bones is the presence of duplicate specimens. This provides us with the opportunity to observe individual hand variation within a single early hominid species. Those from A.L. 3331 333w represent a minimum of five individuals, including a juvenile (2-6 years of age) and an adolescent.The bulk of the Hadar hand fossils were recovered from the 3331333~ locality, but two specimens, a capitate and a proximal phalanx, are from A.L. 288. The latter elements are described elsewhere (Johanson et al., this volume). No comparative analysis or biomechanical or functional interpretations will be entered. Measurements are presented in Tables 1 and 2. See appendix 1 for definition of measurements. The descriptions are organized by region: Carpal bones are described first, followed by metacarpals and phalanges. DESCRIF'MONS CARPALSA.L. 333-40 (Fig. 1A-F) The specimen is a right capitate. Preservation. This capitate is excellently preserved with only two small erosional foci at the dorsomedial and ventromedial margins of the lunate facet.The specimen is rather bulky, having a moderately expanded head and Morphology.