This is directly opposite to the view that has been prevailing until very recently. That the first humans of our own species, Homo sapiens, had dark skin when they wandered into Europe from their homeland in Africa 45,000 years ago, is undisputed. But it has been assumed that the skin lightened relatively quickly in the sun-poor European climate. Light-skinned people have much easier to absorb the sun's ultraviolet rays that make it possible to form the essential vitamin D.
Dark Ice Age hunters
The new study, which is published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is based on analyzes of DNA extracted from 348 people who lived in Europe between 45,000 and 1,700 years ago. With the same methods used in investigations of criminal cases, it was possible to determine the amount of the pigment melanin in the skin of the individuals. Large amounts of melanin give dark skin, small amounts give lighter skin. In addition, it was possible to see eye and hair color.
Interestingly, almost no light-skinned individual was found until far into the time series. Until 14,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, it seems that almost all Europeans were dark-skinned. No change seems to have occurred since the first immigration from Africa over 30,000 years earlier.
Light skin rare for a long time
Then, when the ice melted on the continent, light-skinned individuals appear, but are still in the minority. The first individual with light skin, light hair and blue eyes has actually been found in Sweden, according to the study.
In fact, dark skin was dominant until the Bronze Age and surprisingly common even as late as the Iron Age. There were regional differences. In some areas, it had become more common with light-skinned individuals. But overall, light skin did not become common on the continent until 3,000 years ago.
The question is why. Obviously, pigmentation did not develop as straightforwardly as one thought. The researchers behind the study point out that, even if light skin is beneficial for synthesizing vitamin D, there must have been other factors that were more important for which skin color became dominant.
Facts: Homo sapiens
TT
Modern humans, Homo sapiens, emerged in Africa about 300,000 years ago. Then, about 60,000 to 70,000 years ago, the species spread to Asia and Australia, and somewhat later, about 45,000 years ago, to Europe. Last, North and South America were colonized, probably at least 15,000 years ago.
