The internet unsurprisingly exploded after the ‘Cheddar Man,’ a 10,000-year-old human specimen thought to be Britain’s oldest complete skeleton, was proven by scientists to have had a “dark to black” complexion.
The National History Museum carried out cutting-edge genetic sequencing with facial recognition technology on the skeleton of ‘Cheddar Man,’ found near Gough’s Cave in the Cheddar Gorge, and found that the first British settlers had dark skin, dark curly hair and possibly blue eyes.
Following the news, commenters on the story posted by the Mail Online, not usually known for their restraint, positively frothed.
Many dismissing the scientists claims as left-wing “propaganda” and asked “does this mean nobody can be accused of racism now.” One commenter said it was “nonsense” as it takes “longer than 10,000 years to be white.”
The comments left on the tabloid’s website were picked up by Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy, who stated his “Solidarity with you Mr Cheddar Man,” adding he wished he had known about this when he faced racial prejudice growing up.
Guardian journalist Gary Younge similarly referenced the news to attack alt-right leader Richard Spencer. The avowed white nationalist told Younge that due to his race “you’ll never be an Englishman,” on a Channel 4 documentary on Whiteness.
Others took the news less seriously.
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