The early australopithecine ancestors of humans in Africa likely had light skin beneath hairy pelts.
Researchers believe that the skin color of our earliest ancestors was influenced by their environment and the need to produce vitamin D. These early hominids were probably covered in hair, much like chimpanzees, and the skin underneath was likely light-colored. This lighter skin would have allowed them to absorb more sunlight and produce vitamin D more efficiently in the African environment. As hominids lost their body hair over evolutionary time, skin pigmentation likely darkened to protect against the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Early Ancestors: Likely light skin under hairy pelts.
- Location: Africa
- Reason: To maximize vitamin D production.
- Evolutionary Change: Loss of hair led to darker skin pigmentation for UV protection.
Therefore, while we can't say with absolute certainty the exact shade, current research suggests that the skin of early humans was probably light colored.
