Final answer:
Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson named his 1974 fossil discovery 'Lucy' after the Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' which was popular at the time and playing in the camp during the expedition.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1974, Donald Johanson, an American paleoanthropologist, made a groundbreaking discovery during an expedition in Ethiopia. His team found skeletal remains of what appeared to be an early human ancestor in a gully. The forensic excavation led to the recovery of approximately 40 percent of a hominin skeleton. This significant finding was named Lucy, a name inspired by the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" that was playing in the camp during the expedition.
The naming was somewhat informal and driven by the atmosphere of the discovery moment. This iconic fossil has since played a critical role in understanding human evolution. The name Lucy has become synonymous with early human ancestors and remains a significant part of the paleoanthropological record.