A study suggests that the people behind the construction of the famous Stonehenge might 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.
Near Stonehenge, which lies just beyond the town of Glastonbury , estimated to be built about 5,000 years ago, experts suggest we can infer that the constructors likely had dark complexions.
Up until about 1,700 years ago, most Europeans had dark complexions, according to the researchers behind the study. They also noted that many ancient Greeks and Romans as well as the Britons who constructed Stonehenge possessed dark skin, eyes, and hair.
The research indicates that the transition towards fairer skin, due to population migration to higher latitudes and increased consumption of vitamin D, occurred at a pace slower than earlier believed.
Specialists remain baffled as to why the shift from dark to fairer skin progressed at such a gradual pace.
However, scientists believe farmers may have compensations for vitamin D deficiencies in their diet with accessible sources such as milk and meat.
Samples for the study were taken from the British Isles, mainland Europe, Russia , central Asia and the Middle East.
Dr Silvia Ghirotto, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Ferrara in Italy who led the work, told The Telegraph : 'By analysing ancient DNA from 348 individuals spanning 45,000 years, we reconstructed an intricate picture in which light pigmentation emerged sporadically during the first phases of our presence in Europe.
'Our ancestors had dark skin until very recent times.
'Given that Stonehenge was built during the transition from Neolithic to Bronze Age, and given the high frequency of dark-skinned samples we inferred for that period even in northern Europe, it is likely that Britons who built Stonehenge displayed dark features'.
Stonehenge is an iconic part of Britain's history. It is largely sealed off to the public, with visitors no longer being permitted to touch the stones, but they are able to walk around the monument from a short distance away.
The whole monument, now ruinous, is aligned towards the sunrise on the and sunset on the winter solstice.
Big groups often gather at the monument around the time of the solstices because it serves as a site for Neo-Druids, Pagans, and various 'nature-based' or 'ancient' faiths to practice their beliefs.
Nonetheless, English Heritage allows entry during the summer and winter solstices, as well as the spring and autumn equinoxes.
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