A study suggests that the people behind the construction of the famous Stonehenge may have been Black individuals.
Scientists from the University of Ferrara have reconstructed data from 348 ancient genomes collected throughout Eurasia.
Italy
Which indicates that nearly all Europeans had dark skin up until about 3,000 years ago.
With Stonehenge, located just beyond the town of
Glastonbury
, estimated to be built approximately 5,000 years ago, experts suggest that we can infer the constructors likely had dark complexions.
Up until approximately 1,700 years ago, most Europeans had darker complexions, according to the researchers behind the study. They also noted that many ancient Greeks and Romans as well as the Britons responsible for constructing Stonehenge possessed dark skin, eyes, and hair.
The research indicates that the transition towards fairer skin, due to migration to higher latitudes and increased consumption of vitamin D, occurred at a pace slower than earlier believed.
Experts are still unsure why the change from darker to light skin was so slow.
Nevertheless, scientists think that farmers might compensate for vitamin D deficiencies in their diet using readily available sources like milk and meat.
Specimens for the research were collected from the British Isles and continental Europe.
Russia
, central
Asia
and the Middle East.
Dr. Silvia Ghirotto, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Ferrara in Italy, who headed the research, shared her insights.
The Telegraph
Through the analysis of ancient DNA from 348 people over a period of 45,000 years, we pieced together a detailed image where pale skin colour appeared intermittently during the initial stages of human habitation in Europe.
‘Their forefathers possessed dark skin up until quite recently.’
‘Since Stonehenge was constructed during the shift from the Neolithic era to the Bronze Age, and considering the frequent occurrence of dark-skinned individuals we identified from that time even in Northern Europe, it is probable that the people who built Stonehenge had darker complexions.’
Stonehenge is a significant emblem of British heritage. While mostly inaccessible to direct contact for tourists, who can no longer touch the stones, people still have the opportunity to stroll around the ancient monument from a slight distance.
The entire monument, currently in ruins, is oriented toward the sunrise at dawn and the sunset during the winter solstice.
During the solstice times, big groups often gather at the monument because it serves as a sacred site for Neo-Druids, Pagans, and various ‘nature-based’ or ‘ancient’ faiths.
Nonetheless, English Heritage allows entry during the summer and winter solstices as well as the spring and autumn equinoxes.
Read more