This work chronicles the exploration of the Afar Depression in Ethiopia, a desert area which has produced a long record of human fossil and artefact remains. The author sets the research in its historical and political context.

Over the past 25 years, a stream of fossil and artifact discoveries in the Afar Depression of Ethiopia has produced the longest single record of human ancestors in the world. Many of the fossils found in this region are the missing links leading to modern humans. This book chronicles the exploration of this unique desert area, focusing especially on the 1970s when the valley was mapped and many fossils and archeological sites were discovered. The author gives his personal account of the 25 years he spent researching the region.As co-founder of the team that discovered Lucy, Jon Kalb has first-hand knowledge of the research that was involved in the findings of this region and of the intense rivalry that has accompanied those findings. He discusses the political drama of Ethiopia and the effects this chaos had on the Afar. This book covers the scientific discoveries of the area, the author's own explorations and findings, and the political struggles involved with these discoveries.

Part I: geological formation of the Afar, earth sciences revolution and its focus on the Afar, the authors interest in the region.- Part II: the author's first trip to the Afar, geographical setting and formation of team to explore, further explorations and Lucy.- Part III: early geologists exploration, first rivalries, famine, and life of the Afar nomads.- Part IV: political upheaval, treasure map to fossils, further political upheaval and effect on research, discovery of Bodo Skull.- Part V: Somali invasion, conflicts between research and politics, colonization of Ethiopia.- Epilogue: recent discoveries, return to Ethiopia, the next generation of explorers.