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New DNA Study Reveals Most Ancient People Had Dark Skin Until About 3,000 Years Ago, Challenging The Idea That Light Skin Emerged Quickly For Climate Adaptation
The history of human skin color, especially in Europe, has just taken a turn. For decades, scientists believed that the first modern humans who arrived in Europe, about 45,000 years ago, quickly developed light skin to adapt to the lack of sunlight in the region.
This theory, based on the idea that lighter skin facilitates vitamin D production, was considered reasonable. But a recent study of ancient DNA challenged this assumption and revealed that, for much of Europe’s history, the inhabitants actually had dark skin.
The Mystery Of Skin Color
The first humans, likely originating from Africa, had dark skin, a characteristic that protected them from the strong ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the equator.
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As these humans migrated to regions with less UV radiation, such as Europe and Asia, it was expected that their skin would gradually lighten. The logic was simple: lighter skin would help in the production of vitamin D, essential for bone health.
However, a DNA study has already refuted this idea. The study led by Guido Barbujani from the University of Ferrara in Italy analyzed the genomes of 348 individuals who lived between 45,000 and 1,700 years ago.
The results were surprising: during most of this period, 63% of ancient peoples had dark skin, while only 8% had light skin.
The remainder showed a specific amount of skin color. In other words, light skin did not become dominant until around 3,000 years ago.
DNA Study And New Discoveries
The study also revealed that until the Bronze Age (about 7,000 to 3,000 years ago), half of the population still had dark skin or intermediate tones.
A notable example was the analysis of Ötzi, a famous 5,300-year-old mummy found in the Alps. Scientists discovered that his skin was darker than that of modern Europeans, although not as dark as that of Sub-Saharan Africans.
Another relevant find was that of the Cheddar Man, a 10,000-year-old skeleton from Britain, who also had dark brown skin and, surprisingly, blue eyes.
The Slow March To Light Skin
The transition to lighter skin was gradual. The first signs of lighter pigmentation occurred around 14,000 to 4,000 years ago, with some individuals in Sweden and France displaying light skin and blue eyes.
However, it was only in the Iron Age (about 3,000 to 1,700 years ago) that light skin began to dominate the population. This process was slow and uneven, with some regions of Europe retaining dark skin for longer than others.
The Role Of Agriculture And Migration
The major shift to light skin is linked to the arrival of Neolithic farmers from Anatolia about 10,000 years ago.
These farmers, who already had genes for light skin, likely found an evolutionary advantage in the colder and less humid climate of Europe.
Over time, these genes spread, but this process was gradual, occurring over millennia. Additionally, factors such as migrations and population mixing played an important role in this change.
During the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, for example, dark hair was still predominant, while the first cases of blonde and red hair began to emerge.
A change in diet may also have contributed to this evolution. As human societies became more agricultural, their diets relied less on hunting and more on crops that lacked vitamin D.
To compensate for this deficiency, lighter skin became advantageous for ensuring better absorption of sunlight.
Neanderthals And The Genetic Legacy
Another interesting aspect of the study is that it disproved the idea that modern humans inherited light skin from Neanderthals, who occupied Europe for thousands of years before the arrival of modern humans.
Although there is evidence that the two groups interbred, genetic research indicates that light skin developed independently in modern humans.
Scientists also identified specific genes, like the variants of the TYR and SLC24A5 genes, that are strongly associated with light skin.
These variants were absent in Paleolithic humans but were found in individuals from the Bronze Age, such as a man from Hungary who had light skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair.
Skin Color And Art
While scientists have based their conclusions primarily on genetic data, there is also an interest in artistic representations.
For example, Ancient Egypt depicted women with lighter skin than men, although it is important not to rely too heavily on such artifacts, as they do not always accurately reflect the characteristics of the population.
With information from Zmescience. You can check the original study by clicking this link.
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