A study suggested that an “ancient sun oil” made from soil or ash paint could have protected Homo sapiens from radiation that proved lethal for Neanderthals. A recent study claimed that an “ancient sunscreen” used over 40,000 years ago played a role in the survival of modern humans while contributing to the “acceleration of the extinction of Neanderthals.” According to The Times, the sunscreen used during the Stone Age was made from natural clay pigment. Research indicated that this mixture could have shielded Homo sapiens from radiation, leaving Neanderthals vulnerable to increased radiation. “MAGNETIC POLES SHIFTED, RADIATION INCREASED” A scientific study published in the journal Science Advances suggests that the “ancient sun oil” made from soil or ash paint emerged as a contributing factor explaining how modern humans managed to survive during that era when combined with skills and habits like producing fabric from nets and living in caves. Shared information on the period revealed that Earth’s north and south magnetic poles switched approximately 180 times over the planet’s 4.5 billion-year-old history. While this process took hundreds of years, the radiation from the Sun was drawn towards the poles by the planet’s magnetic field, significantly protecting the Earth’s surface from this radiation. However, during the period under study, Earth’s magnetic field weakened, ultimately increasing the amount of radiation reaching regions outside the poles. “HIGHLY EFFECTIVE SUN PROTECTION” Researchers from the University of Michigan suggest that during this period, Homo sapiens began making clothes and using a pigment called “ancient sun oil” also known as ash paint. When applied to human skin, this paint possessed sun-protective properties. The study stated that “These behaviors may have contributed to the spread of Homo sapiens across Europe and Asia during a time when the Neanderthal population was declining.” Neanderthals reached Europe approximately 400,000 years ago, while Homo sapiens arrived on the continent around 54,000 years ago. About 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals were no longer present on Earth. While it remains unclear why the Neanderthals became extinct, it seems that their competition with modern humans, along with their increased vulnerability to diseases and climate change, played a role in their demise. Many human species used earth or ash paint made from iron oxide, clay, and flint—both to paint objects and cave walls and to adorn their bodies—for thousands of years. Research uncovered that this substance had “sun oil-like properties.” Anthropology professor Raven Garvey from Michigan described it as a highly effective sunscreen.