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Britons who built Stonehenge had dark skin, study reveals

Cheddar Man, who lived 10,000 years ago, had dark skin and blue eyes
Cheddar Man, who lived 10,000 years ago, had dark skin and blue eyes (PA)
  • A new study suggests most Europeans 5,000 years ago, including those who built Stonehenge, likely had dark skin.
  • The research, from the University of Ferrara in Italy, challenges previous beliefs about the timing of skin tone changes in Europe.
  • Analysis of 348 ancient genomes indicates dark skin was prevalent even during the Iron Age.
  • Lighter skin tones became more common as humans migrated to regions with less sunlight, aiding vitamin D production.
  • This change occurred more gradually than previously thought, with dark skin persisting for thousands of years after humans’ migration from Africa.
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