The original migrants to Europe from Africa arrived 8,000 years ago . Up until 40,000 years ago , early hunter-gatherers largely had darker skin . When Near East farmers arrived , they carried with them light skin genes . Genomes of 83 people found 5 genes linked with diet and skin changes .
The original migrants to Europe from Africa arrived 40,000 years ago . Up until 8,000 years ago , early hunter-gatherers largely had darker skin . When Near East farmers arrived , they carried with them light skin genes . Genomes of 83 people found 5 genes linked with diet and skin changes .