Expert: John J. Shea - 3/30/2008

Question
I am curious about the features of paleolithic man.  Were they region-specific physical characteristics, as they generally are today, as in Black in Africa, White in Europe, and Yellow in Asia?

Answer
Jaime
For the most authoritative answer to this, look up Nina Jabolnski's new book about the evolution of skin color.
Much of skin color is related to regulating vitamin synthesis from exposure to sunlight.  Equatorial human ancestors were probaby always darker than their relatives in South Africa and Europe/Asia.  The yellow pigmentation in Asia may be a retention of a primitive feature (south African Khoisan people are similarly colored), or it may be a convergent evolutionary development.
Jablonski's book is your best bet for the most up-to-date information about this.
Cheers,
John Shea