A recent study conducted by the University of Ferrara has revealed new information onEvolution of skin pigmentation in Europe. Analyzing the DNA of 348 ancient individuals who lived in different areas of the Aurasia, the researchers discovered that The dark skin was predominant in the European population until about 3,000 years agoduring the iron age.
These results, published in a Preprint, offer a very different picture compared to the traditional image of the physical aspect of the ancient European ones. DNA analysis made it possible to reconstruct the variation of pigmentation over the last 45,000 years.
During the Neolithic, the dark skin was common in most of the continent, while traces of clear complexion were found almost exclusively in the most northern regions. Only with the Bronze Age, about 4,000 years ago, did a significant increase in individuals with light skin, blond hair and blue eyesin particular in the areas that today correspond to England, Hungary, Estonia and the Czech Republic. In the Iron Age, however, the pigmentation of the skin varied more, with a combination of dark, intermediate and light shades present in different parts of Europe and western Asia.
What is the origin of the dark skin
The origin of the dark skin among the first modern human beings is well documented. Homo Sapiens appeared in Africa about 200,000 years ago and dark pigmentation offered an advantage in the regions with strong sun exposure.
When human populations began to migrate to northern Aurasia, where sunlight was more scarce, one gradually developed lighter skinwhich facilitated the absorption of ultraviolet radiation, essential for the synthesis of vitamin D.
However, the transition did not occur quickly. Some communities have maintained shade of darker skin For longer periodsprobably thanks to a diet rich in fish and other foods containing vitamin D, which compensated for the lower sun exposure.
An emblematic example is Cheddar’s manlived about 10,000 years ago in England: his DNA has revealed a combination of dark skin and blue eyes. This suggests that the physical aspect of ancient European populations was much more varied than we thought in the past.
