But the Cheddar Man story has been told widely enough and memorably enough that it has become a reference point in the culture.

People who know nothing else about ancient DNA science often know that the first Briton had dark skin.

That’s a small piece of accurate scientific information that has found its way into the general stock of knowledge, and that is no small thing.

The Next Specimen: What Comes After Cheddar Man

Ancient DNA research is producing new data from new specimens on a timeline that is shortening every year as the cost and difficulty of sequencing decreases.

In the years since the Cheddar Man study, additional ancient British specimens have been analyzed.