Lucy set the pace, not Bob

Following man's early footsteps", indeed (THES, July 21). I am resigned to archaeologists describing the whole of early humanity as "man", but doesn't The THES have guidelines of gender-neutral language? Particularly since the article under this headline is concerned with the knee joints of a female hominid called "Lucy" (I suppose we should be grateful that the archaeolgists did not call her "Bob" just to be consistent).

Bella Millett

English department

University of Southampton