Study Reveals Ancient Europeans Had Darker Skin, Light Skin Evolved Over Thousands of Years

A groundbreaking study has revealed that the majority of ancient Europeans had dark skin, contradicting the long-standing belief that light skin is an ancient European trait. According to research, around 3,000 years ago, most people in Europe had darker skin tones, and only a small percentage had lighter skin. This new study, based on the analysis of 348 genetic samples from 34 countries, provides new insights into the evolution of skin color in Europe.

The study indicates that 63% of ancient Europeans had dark skin, 29% had medium skin tones, and only 8% had light skin. Contrary to previous research, which suggested that darker skin was prevalent in ancient Europe, this new data shows that light skin became prominent only around 3,000 years ago, marking a significant shift in human evolution.

Experts have long believed that humans originated in Africa and gradually migrated across the globe. As ancient humans settled in northern regions, their skin color evolved to adapt to different environmental factors. One major factor identified in the research is the reduced exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light in northern latitudes, which led to the development of lighter skin to absorb UV light and produce Vitamin D more efficiently.

However, the study also suggests that other factors, such as diet and social changes, played a significant role in this gradual transition. Before the rise of agriculture, ancient humans might have consumed more vitamin D-rich foods, and over time, dietary changes contributed to the genetic shift in skin color.

The research further explored the genetic pathways that led to lighter skin, eyes, and hair. These traits began appearing approximately 14,000 years ago during the final stages of the Paleolithic era, but the significant presence of lighter skin only emerged in the Copper and Iron Ages, around 3,000 to 5,000 years ago.

The findings challenge previous assumptions about the rapid development of lighter skin in ancient Europeans and suggest that the transition was much slower and more complex. It also sheds light on the genetic diversity in ancient Europe, where darker skin tones were still common long after the arrival of early humans.

Additionally, the study examined the genetic markers of individuals like “Cheddar Man,” a prehistoric human whose DNA analysis in 2018 revealed he had dark skin, despite earlier assumptions based on his European ancestry. This discovery further underscores the complexity of human evolution and how genetic traits such as skin color, eye color, and hair type evolved over thousands of years.

Overall, the study highlights that the evolution of lighter skin in Europe was not a rapid or linear process. It suggests that human evolution, particularly regarding skin color, is far more intricate than previously understood. Even with recent advancements in genetic research, there is still much to learn about the early history of human populations and their adaptations to diverse environments.