Which europeans are the darkest

But the latest findings show that La Brana 1 still had dark skin and had been around the continent for 40, years, meaning fair skin probably evolved millennia later. The findings are published in the journal Nature. Lalueza-Fox said it's difficult to determine the exact shade of the man's complexion, but that he very likely had dark hair — either black or brown — as well as the gene mutation for blue eyes.

One theory of how light skin emerged is that changes in diet may have been a big contributing factor, as farming became more commonplace. Now, as Paul Rincon of the BBC reports, genome analysis has revealed that Cheddar Man had dark brown skin and blue eyes—a discovery that adds to a growing body of research indicating that the evolution of human skin color was far more complex than previously believed. Experts at the University College of London then used the DNA information to create a facial reconstruction of Cheddar Man, rendering his dark complexion, deep brown hair, and light eyes in life-like detail.

Around ten percent of people with white British ancestry are descended from this group of first settlers, and previous reconstructions of Cheddar Man have depicted him with pale skin and light hair. But the new discovery suggests that light skin evolved in European populations much later than is commonly believed.

Man killed in plane crash weeks after Blue Origin flight into space. French authorities investigate alleged rape of soldier at Elysee Palace. Grampians Peaks Trail opens as hikers question its steep price tag. It's not unusual once you understand how booster shots work. This sleepy country town is a secretive centre for big pharma drug production.

Popular Now 1. A former cop calls it 'the number one threat to society'. Charles Perkins Oration: Why truth-telling and treaties are needed to reconcile Australia's past Posted 30m ago 30 minutes ago Sat 13 Nov at am.

French authorities investigate alleged rape of soldier at Elysee Palace Posted 42m ago 42 minutes ago Sat 13 Nov at am. Family stranded in Simpson Desert after campervan bogged on flooded roads Posted 1h ago 1 hours ago Sat 13 Nov at am. Mystery early human revealed in DNA. Farming 'spread by migrant wave'. Neanderthals 'could speak like us'.

Ancient humans interbred with us. Nature: Derived immune and ancestral pigmentation alleles in a 7,year-old Mesolithic European. Image source, CSIC. The team was surprised by the hunter gatherer's unusual colouring. Image source, J M Vidal Encina. The bones of the 7,year-old man were discovered in a cave in Spain. Related Topics.