Posts with Comments by dmo
Are red heads the living Neandertals?
The darkest Africans don't live in a tropical zone. They live in semi-arid regions of Sudan/Uganda/Chad, etc.
Heat and humidity are likely both relevant, but heat more so. Humidity tends to be highest near the Equator and coastlines. The amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface tends to peak near the Tropic of Cancer.
Heat and humidity are likely both relevant, but heat more so. Humidity tends to be highest near the Equator and coastlines. The amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface tends to peak near the Tropic of Cancer.
It's extremely relevant, since we're talking about Europeans and their ancestors, and light skin appears to have evolved separately in East Asia (different mutations are involved). Moreover, Northern Mongoloid facial morphology may aid in the absorption of sunlight and production of vitamin D relative to Europeans via flattening, skin type (beyond color), and fat deposits, as suggested by Coon.
The Rift Valley is not "hot and humid"...black skin would not be accurate, more like "brown" skin.
Exactly.
But I don't think Melanesians are a good example. Some are as dark as the darkest West African, no doubt owing to selection in their present environment. San Bushmen might be closer to the mark. But I'd be wary of claiming any particular modern population has "stayed" the same color as the "out of Africans" without strong molecular genetics evidence.
many kazahks are very brownish in complexion in my experience, though many are also brunette white.
Modern Central Asians are influenced by relatively recent gene flow from East Asia.
Exactly.
But I don't think Melanesians are a good example. Some are as dark as the darkest West African, no doubt owing to selection in their present environment. San Bushmen might be closer to the mark. But I'd be wary of claiming any particular modern population has "stayed" the same color as the "out of Africans" without strong molecular genetics evidence.
many kazahks are very brownish in complexion in my experience, though many are also brunette white.
Modern Central Asians are influenced by relatively recent gene flow from East Asia.
They were white skinned, then?
Maybe. Definitely not black-skinned, anyway.
And homo sapiens was black skinned in the immediate push from africa?
If you mean Cro-Magnons in Europe, absolutely not. They entered Europe from Central Asia and/or the Middle East. Black skin would have been selected away well before they arrived in Europe. And that's if their ancestors were black-skinned to begin with, which is hardly established. Black skin is a highly specialized adaptation to hot, humid conditions.
Re: Auel vs. Kurten: Black-skinned Cro-Magnons in Europe 35,000 years ago is even less plausible than blond, blue-eyed Cro-Magnons. Rickets would make it rather hard for black-skinned types to outbreed Neanderthals.
[reposted with correct formating]
Maybe. Definitely not black-skinned, anyway.
And homo sapiens was black skinned in the immediate push from africa?
If you mean Cro-Magnons in Europe, absolutely not. They entered Europe from Central Asia and/or the Middle East. Black skin would have been selected away well before they arrived in Europe. And that's if their ancestors were black-skinned to begin with, which is hardly established. Black skin is a highly specialized adaptation to hot, humid conditions.
Re: Auel vs. Kurten: Black-skinned Cro-Magnons in Europe 35,000 years ago is even less plausible than blond, blue-eyed Cro-Magnons. Rickets would make it rather hard for black-skinned types to outbreed Neanderthals.
[reposted with correct formating]
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