Cheddar Mann, The First British Was Black And Blue-eyed

The "Cheddar Man", whose remains were found in 1903, came to measure 1.66 meters and had a life expectancy of 20 years.

The "first modern British" looked very different from the current stereotype: according to a team of researchers announced today in London, his skin was dark brown or even black; his eyes, of an intense blue, and his hair, dark and curly.

Until now, it was thought that the so-called "Cheddar Mann", whose origins go back to about 10,000 years ago, had much clearer skin. But according to experts at the Natural History Museum in London and University College London, it was not like that.

Although before the "Cheddar Man" -which owes its name to that was found in a cavity in the Cheddar gorge, in the southwest of England- the present Great Britain was already populated, it is considered that this marked the beginning of the occupation of the island in the long term.

According to Alfons Kenis, co-author of the head model made from DNA tests of a complete skeleton, although human beings are defined by their nationality, the "Cheddar Man" shows that "we are all immigrants".

The "Cheddar Man", whose remains were found in 1903, came to measure 1.66 meters and had a life expectancy of 20 years. Like the other Mesolithic men who populated Europe, he was lactose intolerant, so he could not drink milk as an adult.

"It seems that the light color of eyes entered Europe much earlier than light skin or blonde hair, which did not reach the beginning of cattle ranching," said researcher Tom Booth.

Until now, it had always been assumed that the skin of humans quickly became paler when they arrived in Europe, about 45,000 years ago, he added. Not in vain, "clear skin absorbs UV radiation better and helps fight vitamin D deficiency in climates with less sun".

Ian Barnes, from the Museum of Natural History, was enthusiastic about the combination of eye and skin color and the peculiarities of the "Cheddar Man" face. He said he was very particular.

The ancestors of "Cheddar Man" emigrated from the Near East to Europe. Around ten percent of the current British white people come, according to experts, from those men.