Through minor DNA changes, we know which early humans have descendants alive today. This successful “out of Africa” migration, the Southern Dispersal, took place around 70,000 to 50,000 BCE. Our ancestors proceeded to colonize all the continents and larger islands, arriving in…
- Eurasia circa 60,000 BCE
- Australia circa 65,000 BCE
- South America circa 30,000 BCE
- North America circa 28,000 BCE (31,000 to 29,000 BCE)
- Hawaii, Easter Island, Madagascar, and New Zealand circa 300 to 1280 CE
Dark Skin Diversification: Africa’s intense UV radiation continues to select for darker skin, which protects against UV-related damage and helps in managing folate levels. The mention of some populations developing even darker skin tones could be linked to local environmental adaptations within the continent.
