HOUSTON -- In the Ethiopian language, she’s called Dinknesh a name that means the wonderful, the fabulous, the precious. But to most of the world, she’s known as—Lucy.

AP Photo

The 3.2 million-year-old fossil was discovered 33 years.

The find yielded then-unparalleled insights to the origins of humankind.

Next week, the iconic set of bones will be the star of a much-hyped exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

It’s the first public viewing of Lucy outside her homeland.

Houston museum officials say Lucy must be displayed to offer a glimpse into the history of mankind and a much-needed spotlight on Ethiopia as the cradle of humanity.

But critics, including some famous paleo-anthropologists, say it’s irresponsible to exhibit a specimen so fragile and valuable.

They fear the fossil will be damaged during the exhibit and a projected six-year tour.

Some Ethiopian immigrants in Houston are urging a boycott of the exhibit, which runs August 31st through April 20th.