DNA research indicates early Britons had dark skin

Facial Reconstruction of Cheddar Man 10,000 year old fossil found in South West England, photo courtesy of Channel4.com press pack

Some of the earliest settlers of Britain were of dark skin and many white Briton’s can trace their ancestry to these people according to a CNN report.  Scientific research and facial reconstruction on the previously discovered skeleton dubbed “Cheddar Man” has shown he had “dark brown to black skin” and “dark curly hair” according to Natural History Museum and University College London. The “Cheddar Man” fossil was first found in a cave in 1903 near the village of Cheddar located in South West England. The fossil was first thought to be of fair hair and skin and is believed 10,000 years old.

The pioneering research on which these findings were based, suggests contrary to the prevailing view, that pale skin which is thought characteristic of Europeans is a much more recent phenomenon. The research also suggests that geography was not always associated with the colour of one’s skin. This information has been released ahead of the Television documentary entitled First Brit: Secrets of the 10,000 Year Old Man which is set to air on Channel 4 on February 18 in the United Kingdom.

 

Read Full Story

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

49 Comments

  1. Illuminator
    February 9, 2018

    What is the real significance of whether the first humans were whit, black, brown, albino or any other color. It is more significant to me to really understand that science shows we are all between 99.9 to 99.5 % the same genetically. So why do we in 2018, still have blacks wiping out blacks, whites attempting to wipe out blacks, browns killing browns etc, etc when we are basically all the same thing……..human, animal or whatever your pick is. To me that’s the significant discussion to have.

    • Shaka Zulu
      February 9, 2018

      Maybe if people understand that they are all the same from the same then there will no longer the perception of one race superior to the other. And we are all desi ged to survive and adapt. You are correct on having a discussion on why we kill each other when we all the same but tbat discussion must have ckear understanding on where we were, who we are, what we have been through, and find praxtical solutions. Without this evidence or perspectives nothing will change. History and information is exposed to distortion and untruths and if we not aware one race will enslave another and the other stuck in inferiority. Or maybe survival of the fittest, smartest, strongest does exist in tbe human kingdom and war, and dispute is just a reflection of that survival instinct.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 12, 2018

      Shut up!

       You do not know what  you are talking about: how can a person  be 99.5% of another person, in that case you are suggesting that God did not make all humans equal!

      People are simply people there is no difference in any human; except for the texture of the hair, and the amount of Melanin in the skin of the individual.

      We have different blood groups, with slight verification, B, A, O,  O – (negative) ect! But there are people of all different shades with the same blood group.

      Some of you need to shut up when you do not know. If you are an idiot living in Dominica, and you did not have the opportunity to get a high school education, go  to the Dominica State College and take a placement test, if you can pass it and there is a biology program for students, Major in Biology, Anatomy, if you are capable of learning you might be in better position talk sense and not fart or rubbish! 

  2. February 8, 2018

    I will never understand what is this hoopla about what man will never prove, regardless of science or no science.

    If God is the creator of all things –mankind animals, vegetation, and all the other natural beauty of the Earth, what is the reason for the constant debate about the skin color of the human being?

    If God created the different species of everything on Earth–the Rose is a flower and so is a Lilly, however, their colors are various, like all the other flowers are. And that goes for all species of God’s creation. So why can’t man accept himself as according to God’s Creation? How can science transform a man with white skin into one with black skin? How can science transform a Chinese into and Into an Indian?

    Ther are mountains and valleys; there are rivers, oceans, and seas, there are nights and days; there are sunshine and rainfall? An Elf is not a Giant, but they both belong to the species of human beings, need I say more?

    • February 8, 2018

      The Book of Genisis tells us that in ancient days there were Nephilim (better known as Giants) living on Earth; up to when the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land (Canaan, which is now Israel today).

      They ended up spending 40 years in the Wilderness because those who went to survey the Land came back and said that they cannot go there because they were like grasshoppers compared the men who lived in Canaan. God punished the people for not having faith in Him so no one over 20 years –except Joshua and Caleb –had the privilege to enter the Land of Promise, they died in the Wilderness.

      My point? If the original black man is the father of all of mankind today, why are we not Giants as well?
      If the Israelites believed that they were like grasshoppers compared those who lived in Canaan; how did they mannaged to have victory againts those Giant men? I rest my case!

      • Me
        February 9, 2018

        Liz, size does not always matter. They had David, remember!

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        February 9, 2018

        You always have to write some foolishness, as if you are surprising the world with something new. There are giants alive and well living on this earth today, and believe you me it all has to do genetics!

        For your benefit only; a giant is a living person of great size; a person of extraordinary strength, so whether they lived in Canaan, or even in Dominica where from Marigot we saw the late  Elijah Prince, and Wordsworth Telemaque stood almost seven feet tall, and the late Andre the giant from France; former wrestler, we know that there is no mystery regarding giants. 

        It is a variance in their genetic code which causes them to be so tall with large body structures, and some possesses extraordinary strength. I saw a photograph of the tallest man and the shortest woman this week, the woman is less than four feet tall, the man is perhaps more than eight feet tall, how do you account for that?

        I know why; do you?

    • February 8, 2018

      How can science transform a Chinese into and Into an Indian?

      Correction: How can science transform a Chinese man into an Indian man?

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 9, 2018

      “How can science transform a man with white skin into one with black skin? 

      You see Elizabeth, such questions are anticipated from the lessor educated: people like you who believe you are an authority on God’s words. But if you were an authority on his words you would not have asks such an ignorant questions, because you would have read in the Bible where it noted “genetics;” and I leave that to you to research okay!

      When the theory of sending humans to the moon in the late 1950’s even to the day when man landed on the moon,  there are those who claim it was fake; they  say it did not happen: doubters to this day claimed man never touched down on the moon.

      You write lots of crap, according to the nonsense you believe: The fact is the lessor educated, without a university, or college degree are the ones who profess Christianity, but remember Luke the Apostle of Jesus was a medical doctor by profession.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        February 9, 2018

        Cont:

        How can you understand the science of genetics, when you never set foot in a college or university, never study health science, has no concept of human biology, nor simply anatomy. It is an establish fact that genetically every human alive derived from a black person that was established, as research done.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 9, 2018

      Cont:

      How can you understand the science of genetics, when you never set foot in a college or university, never study health science, has no concept of human biology, nor simply anatomy. It is an establish fact that genetically every human alive derived from a black person that was established, as research done.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 9, 2018

      Conclusion:

      The questions you asks are so stupid they make me feel ashamed  that there are such foolish Dominicans like you with the nerve to write and asks such stupid question in a forum read all over the world. God is love, he is also science, he created the first humans, by molding a man out of dirt, which became flesh.

      Then he put Adam to sleep, and remove a rib from him and from his rib created Eve a woman; that was the first surgery ever performed: Can you deny that?

      Recently a white woman in Australia gave birth to a Black child, she never associated with a black man nor have sexual intercourse with a black man. By same token, a Black woman in England gave birth to a black, and a white child “twins” which are alive!

      • February 9, 2018

        Telemaque you can write 100 entries as you wish to do, perhaps that is your only pleasure of life. But you are the one who is full of stupidity, full of the garbage of your carnal mind condition, it is not me. Unfortunately for you, you are thinking that you know it all –you are so pitiful and stupid, too bad that you don’t know this about yourself!

        Now if you want to continue to show people how stupid you are; find your own mumble jumble subjects to continue to make that great spectacle of yourself; leave what I write alone; for your responses have nothing to do with my thoughts.

    • February 9, 2018

      @Me, David only had to face one Giant, and the point which I am making is that God is the One in control of everything in Life and without that control, the work of man cannot stand, for God wants the glory it does not belong to man.

      For example, how did the Israelites, who thought that they were grasshoppers as compared to the men who lived in Canaan, were able to defeat them in wars without God’s intervention? And that goes all around for the rest of the World–scientists cannot define God’s Creation and His Ways unless they respond by faith in Him.

    • Gayle Loftis-Malcolm
      February 11, 2018

      Beautifully put. As a ,light skinned African American I can tell you we need to honor the diversity that God has created.

  3. J.John Charles
    February 8, 2018

    Anonymous, I say hallelujah to what you typed.
    “I also believed that your God have given us the choice and freedom to think for ourselves.”

    Can’t you see that he is a loving God who cares for you,? Although you don’t believe in Him,the glory and praise which He so rightly deserved for giving you the strength and breath of life,instead you are giving this honor to Charles Darwin.
    I hope when the time comes to die,you will call on Darwin.
    You also missed read my comments I didn’t blasphem and cursed people like you,I will never do so neither can I.you are not God.
    You better prepare to meet God before he takes back the little breath you have making vary with,because you are nothing before God Almighty.

    • Anonymous
      February 9, 2018

      I am not afraid of God, John Charles, After all, according to your religion He is all loving and all forgiving. To tell the truth Skerrit scares me far more than God.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        February 9, 2018

        The Bible teaches “fear me” speaking in reference to God, who can destroy the body and soul!

        Roosevelt Skerrit can victimize you; but fear him not, because he’s only a very small object in the sight of God, he is a nobody where it pertains to God and his power.

        Fear no man on earth!

  4. The one and Only
    February 8, 2018

    Who cares……..

  5. J.John Charles
    February 8, 2018

    The most reliable book in the world,and this book has stood the test of time.”The Bible” Some calls it a history book.Really it’s not,although the record found in this book is 100% accurate,but this book is “HIS-STORY” Christ the creator of all.
    Now the facial reconstruction of this man or woman,because he looks like a sweetheart.the prevailing argument is man came from Africa,but let’s go back to the book of books,the bible.We are told God put the man whom He had formed (not evolved) east-ward in the garden of Eden.Genesis 2:8.
    Although God don’t elaborate on the exact location of Eden,but it was towards east of Palestine,it was in the region of Mesopotamia,near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.And whenever we hear these names Iraq comes to mind.
    While reading remember there is someone who loves us,and He is Jesus Christ…..”Oh how I love Him” Do you want to know why?…Because He first did.
    Amen and amen

    • Anonymous
      February 8, 2018

      You believe what you believe John Charles and that is your right. At the same time I believe in Charles Darwin’s evolution theory and science. I also believe that your God has given us the choice and freedom to think for ourselves, so please do not blaspheme or curse those who question your holy book.

  6. trump
    February 8, 2018

    FAKE NEWS!…….LOL

  7. Dante Jones
    February 8, 2018

    İmagine being so insecure as a people that we have to.latch on to obvious propaganda to justify our place in history. Look up the science behind this or actually read the.article. it’s shoddy science masked in weasily rhetoric so that they can get.away with misinformation without being held accountable

  8. anonymous2
    February 8, 2018

    I wouldn’t believe everything that CNN reports. All of you are assuming the “theory of the evolution of man.” This is not what really happened. If you can accurately interpret the Bible, it actually tells you how we all came about. “We will make man in ‘our’ image,” which indicates more than one of what many call God. The Gods are actually ET’s of superior intelligence capable of creation and major destruction.. There are many different ones. There is only one entity that is superior to all others. This planet has had many civilizations which have come and gone, each being destroyed. Ours is nearing its completion also.

  9. mind me wi
    February 8, 2018

    actually a new study shows that mankind originated from europe and not africa as we have been made to believe for so long…

  10. Odinn
    February 8, 2018

    Today, still the great majority of humans have dark/brown complexion. As said earlier it is considered certain that primordial humans had dark skin. As they propagated further north, away from the sunny equatorial areas their skin response was to get lighter, mostly to counteract less vitamin D production. That is how they mutated to become pink/colourless. “White” ore light skin people can thus be said to be mutated blacks.

    • Looking on
      February 8, 2018

      So how did they get their nose and how did we get our nose?

      • February 8, 2018

        @Looking out: That is a good question! And and I am adding, “what about the differences in the hair”?

  11. Child Of Itassi
    February 8, 2018

    So Britain is just another “s…hole” according to the illustrious POTUS.

  12. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 7, 2018

    That might be news to CNN, but there are millions of highly educated Black people, even some born in the Village of Wesley in Dominica, who are privy to such information; without even studying the science of human biology; realizing that life it originates in Namibia in Africa; and the Garden of Eden of was located near Ethiopia.

    That is not news to us; contrary to white history teachings, we know that the world become populated by Black people who walked across the world and populated the world. DNO do not allow enough space to write, so I will try to say it and hope the reader understand.

    Mutation is a permanent transmissible change in the genetic material; that is an individual exhibiting a change called sport: it is a mutation resulting from a change in a single base pair in the DNA molecule. i know there are some smart people who will give thumbs down but unless you know  about genetics be quiet.

    White children are born of Black parent.

  13. Shaka Zulu
    February 7, 2018

    Humanity started in Africa so here we go. After all we are all the same with some slight genetic variations that give us distinctions expressed as phenotype. This i belive is needed for the continuation of the human species. Variety is the spice of life and needed for survival. We adapt to our environment for this purpose. As the black man move to the poles lighter skinned gennes are favoured for survival or florished due to reduction of sunlight. The human race die and return to the very same basic elements that built all living things. Science is amazing!!!!!!!!!

    • John
      February 7, 2018

      what make you believe that people coming from Africa were all black ?

      • Shaka Zulu
        February 8, 2018

        They were not. There were albinos and other genetic variations that were influenced by environment. Over time and through natural selection a certain phenotype dominated in particular environment. Albinos are not to far from white people so there is evidence that blacks can turn to white. Like all things genetic thier are some variations that are higher functioning. In the theory of evolution there is a link btw cyno bacteria to amphibians, to reptiles, to birds, to mammals and there is always this species tbat serves as the bridge. Like mamals that lay eggs. And the simillarity between scales and feathers. So even within the human race tge bridge btw black to white is there. On a religious point of view God only made two people Adam and eve. So how did all the races come about? I seen two blacks make a white child (Albinism) but have not seen the other way round. All domestic dog species you see came drom wolves. We are animals also.

      • Anonymous
        February 8, 2018

        Shaka, I love your way of thinking bro. We should not be shackled to one book. Your thoughts are very refreshing and challenging. That too is the spice of life and leads to progress.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 7, 2018

      “distinctions expressed as phenotype. ”

      See if you can understand this better and appreciate it: so let us say it is to distinguish between the presence of an element, and its expressions; modern geneticists refer to the totality of alleles that an individual contains as the genotype, and to the physical appearance of an individual as the phenotype.
      The phenotype of a individual is the observable outward manifestation of the gens that it carries.

      The  phenotype is the end result of the functioning of the enzymes, and proteins encoded by the genes of the individual, its genotype. Hence the genotype is the blueprint, thus the phenotype is the realized outcome.

      Reduction of sunlight has nothing to do with it; I been all over Europe; I live in North America, and the sun can shine as bright and hot as any other place on earth. We are in winter, this day, however, in Los Angeles the sun is shining brilliantly temp; about 78 degrees!

    • out of south city
      February 8, 2018

      Shaka Zulu, I concur. If only we do our research we would find out the truth. We have become comfortable and gullible and so we believe and accept everything that has been taught to us by those who distorted our history and take the credit for it. We must become vigilant in our search so that we can pass it on to the future generation.
      HOTEP (PEACE)

  14. J.John Charles
    February 7, 2018

    This man is looking like a woman.At the end of the day,this is just a fancy story.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 7, 2018

      You are fool!

      Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

  15. Massacre
    February 7, 2018

    The first humans were Black , this we knew all along. They finally and slowly accepting their connections to a skin color that they have so willingly tried to destroy for centuries.
    I have always said to my people that we should never be ashamed of our Sun Kissed skin . Amen!

  16. Roy
    February 7, 2018

    This is not really news. For decades now we have known that modern humans originated in Africa. Therefore it follows that the people who migrated from Africa to Europe were black.
    why did they turn white? Because of the lack of as much sunlight in Europe and more importantly: vitamin D – which, by the way, is really an essential hormone for a healthy life.
    Humans skin had to lighten to allow for the maximization of sunlight hence the white people. When sunlight hits the skin Vitamin D3 is created This vital vitamin plays many roles in keeping humans healthy.
    Even though people in sunnier climes may think they are getting enough vitamin D3 from the sun, it would be wise to boost that vitamin by taking supplements because dark skins can inhibit the absorption of enough Vitamin D3.
    So get your Vitamin D3 supplements from your chemist. It will improve your health.
    Remember D3 not D

    • John
      February 7, 2018

      what make you believe that people coming from Africa were all black ?

      • Me
        February 8, 2018

        That is a valid question, but is it important?

      • Roy
        February 8, 2018

        Menalin is a protective pigmentation of the skin. It makes the skin turn dark to prevent serious harm to it. If people live in areas that are full of sunlight, like Africa. they are bound to develop a dark skin. That is nature at work.
        If you live in a sunny region, simply go outside. Your skin is naturally stimulated to produce melanin when it is exposed to sunlight.

      • Roy
        February 9, 2018

        Further to your question: They know that he was black because all features of living things are “written” in their DNA.
        It is the markers in your DNA that give rise to skin colour, eye colour, hair type, gender etc
        If two people with different skin colours send a DNA sample to be analyzed, the scientist can tell who has what colour skin without having seen the people.
        DNA samples can be taken from any type of tissue: bone, flesh or fluid no matter how old.
        That is how they catch some criminals after finding their DNA at a crime scene.
        DNA samples form solid evidence in courts of law.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 10, 2018

      Roy, it is true a mineral, such as Vitim D3  deficiency’s  can have an effect on the human, however,  the pigmentation of a white or black, or any other shade of people, demanded more than simple vitamins!

      You quoted Vitamin D3 I can tell you right now that supports strong bones, and other immune health. When we split a molecule of beta-carotene into equal halves produces two molecules of vitamin A. When vitamin A is oxidized in turn, retinal the pigment used in human vision, is produced, but if you encounter a vision deficiency, what amount of carrot would you have to eat before your vision could be corrected?

      You would perhaps eat carrots from now to the day you go completely blind and die; your vision would not return to normal. Why do you believe so many young children utilizes eye glasses? The discovery in the debate has nothing to do with sunlight, or vitamin deficiency, but a simple genetic mutation, which God engineered!

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 10, 2018

      I am still coming at you Roy, there are many black people who wish their completion was fair or light, if you think that Vitamin D3 or any other vitamin deficiency could have caused black people to turn white, that process would be continuing to this day; rather there are chemicals sold which some ignorant black people use to bleach their skin.

      Nevertheless, when they discontinue the use, they return to their original complexion, with visible scars.

      We know that certain vitamin is obtained from the sun, and believed can aid in the prevention of certain cancers; however, we know also if one is over exposed to too much sunlight, they often develop skin cancer; found mostly among white people. I hate to say this, but most of you comment is absolutely nonsense!

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 12, 2018

      You see Roy, we can also say melanin is a dark sulfur-containing pigment normally found in the hair, epidermis (skin), ciliary body, choroid of the eye, pigment layer of the retina, and certain nerve cells. It occurs abnormally in certain tumors, known as melanomas, and is sometimes excreted in the urine when such tumors (melanuria) is present.

      It is true that it is found in the epidermis of all humans; however, it dose not react to the sun as you claimed, if that was the case everybody on would be very dark: Nevertheless, it determines the shade of a person. The greater the contents of Melanin is in a persons epidermis that determine the complexion of the individual.

      A white person is white, simple because the contents of Melanin in their skin is less than that in a black person: Some black people are darker than some due to the same reason; the reality of life is this everybody skin color is the same without Melanin in the epidermis!

  17. Roger Burnett
    February 7, 2018

    This doesn’t surprise me at all. Yet we continue to place negative emphasis on skin pigment and facial features.

    • Titiwi
      February 8, 2018

      Roger, could not agree with you more. The colour of on’s skin does not make you a different person. Darwin was right all along and there is only one race, the human race. It is high time we stop wasting time focusing on cosmetic differences rather than work together, for the benefit of all.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available