Sunscreen may have been crucial for the survival of prehistoric humans during the time when Neanderthals were perishing, as indicated by recent research conducted by the University of Michigan.
In Europe, Homo sapiens may have shielded themselves from harmful solar radiation by using ochre pigment, a natural mineral with yellow, red, and brown hues known to act as a form of sunscreen when applied to the skin.
This occurred around 41,000 to 39,000 years ago during periods of abnormal activity in the Earth’s magnetic fields, putting individuals at risk of sun damage.
Magnetic fields are produced by currents from Earth’s core, forming an invisible shield that protects against cosmic radiation and charged particles from the sun.
Both the North and South poles of the magnetic field are not fixed and can wander from their geographical locations, causing fluctuations in the strength of the magnetic field.
Approximately 40,000 years ago, during the Laschamps Excursion, the poles of the Earth’s magnetic field shifted, leading to a significant weakening of the field and an increased penetration of atmospheric energy particles like solar and cosmic radiation.
“During the Laschamps event, the magnetic poles shifted away from true north,” stated Dr. Agnit Mukhopadhyay, the lead author of the study, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
According to scientists, the Earth’s magnetic field weakened to about 10% of its current strength during the Laschamps event, causing the Arctic to move closer to the equator, resulting in an expansion of the aurora zones.
Their analysis suggests that both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals were more susceptible to UV radiation due to the weakening of the magnetic field during this time.
Furthermore, the study indicates that regions without magnetic field protection coincided with early human settlements 41,000 years ago, potentially leading to an increase in the use of ochre and other forms of sunscreen.
Raven Garvey, a co-author of the research and an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan, believes that the increase in ochre use could be linked to the protective properties of the mineral against solar radiation.
Archaeological evidence from the same era also suggests advancements in clothing-making tools and techniques among early humans.
While Homo sapiens adapted to these environmental changes, Neanderthals faced challenges in Europe, possibly due to their lack of similar adaptations and skills.
The study, published in Advances in Science, provides new insights into early human responses to increased UV radiation exposure and the protective behaviors they adopted.
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About our experts:
Dr. Agnit Mukhopadhyay: An astrophysicist specializing in mapping, geoscience, and mathematical modeling. He is a research affiliate at the University of Michigan’s Climate and Space Science and Engineering department and a senior software engineer at Mathworks. Mukhopadhyay’s work focuses on developing features for mapping Earth and other planetary bodies.
Doctor Raven Garvey: An associate professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan and an associate curator at the Museum of Anthropological Archaeology. Garvey studies the behavior of Holocene hunter-gatherer populations and the impact of ecological, demographic, and social factors on cultural changes over time. Her current research project combines archaeological data with evolutionary modeling to investigate human behavioral ecology and cultural transmission theory.
Source: www.sciencefocus.com