My 100% Basque Grandfather was swarthy but had hazel eyes.
Most of my ancestors were Basques from Spain, too-my grandfather was swarthy, I guess- medium olive skin, black hair and dark eyes-I have red hair, gray/green eyes, my brother has my grandfather’s hair and eyes but the gray/green eyes and brown or red hair is more common in the family than the darker looks. The article shows we have been all mixed up for a lot longer than a lot of people thought...
My Dad had very blue eyes but quite dark hair & complexion, so much so that my Mom’s family once thought he was Italian, although his forebears hailed from the eastern Poland/Ukraine region – a lot of mixing going on over the centuries in that area, I’m sure.
The Basques may be the closest representatives of an aboriginal culture, but now in general Europe is becoming a Basket case...