Clues to ancient invasion in DNA

[gilmore]

Clues to ancient invasion in DNA

DNA may hold clues to an ancient movement from Ireland to Scotland
Scientific evidence of an ancient invasion of Scotland from Ireland may have been uncovered by DNA techniques.

Researchers from Edinburgh University said studies of Scots living on Islay, Lewis, Harris and Skye found strong links with Irish people.

Early historical sources recount how the Gaels came from Ireland about 500 AD and conquered the Picts in Argyll.

Scientists said the study was the first demonstration of a significant Irish genetics component in Scots' ancestry.

The research, which features work by geneticist Dr Jim Wilson, a specialist in population genetics, is being featured in programmes on Gaelic television channel BBC Alba.

The study also suggests intriguing ancestry of Scots living on the Western Isles and in the north and north east of Scotland.

Trading networks

Dr Wilson said: "It was extremely exciting to see for the first time the ancient genetic connection between Scotland and Ireland - the signature of a movement of people from Ireland to Scotland, perhaps of the Scots or Gaels themselves."

The origin of the Gaels - who by conquering and integrating with Pictish northern tribes created the Kingdom of Alba - has been debated by historians for centuries.

The earliest historical source comes from around the 10th Century and relates that the Gaels came from Ireland in about 500 AD, under King Fergus Mor.

However, more recently archaeologists have suggested the Gaels had lived in Argyll for centuries before Fergus Mor's invasion.

The study also suggested an east-west genetic divide seen in England and attributed to Anglo-Saxons and Danes was evident in the north of Scotland.

This was noted in places far from Anglo-Saxon and Danish settlements, indicating that this division was older and may have arisen in the Bronze Age through trading networks across the North Sea.

Geneticists also said as many as 40% of the population on the Western Isles could have Viking ancestry, while no Viking ancestry was found in north east Scotland.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/s...ds/7976510.stm

[Spartan]

See related info in this thread: >> http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/d...x.html?t=47216

Especially post #2 & #10

[Sketraw]

I thinks we need to look at a bit of history here. It has long be known that the Irish settled in South West Scotland, hence the Celtic iron-age Ulster-Scots, and the origin of the name Scots, they did not defeat the Picts although there are a few recorded battles, they united under one leader Kenneth McAlpine he is given the credit for this but there were many pacts made in the past especially against the Romans and then laterally the attempts at a unification. It was McAlpines son who married the Pictish Princess (or the other way round cant remember at the moment) this is supposed to be what took place and brought about peace.

If they defeated anyone it was the Britons who occupied the south west. Stirling (Argyle) at the time would have been the outer reaches of the Pictish Kingdom,

As for the North East it wasn't until the 11- 12c that the Irish Scots Brought religion to the North East with the formation of Deer Abbey recorded in the Book of Deer now in York University (which is annoying to say the least).

After reading some of Dr.Wilsons work in the past I would not rely on the accuracy especially on DNA of any bones of that period as the Picts cremated their dead (a parctice I am sure picked up from the bronze-age Scandinavian Beaker People, who settled in the East of Scotland) and there are few if any DNA evidence in the few surviving bones there is.

As for the Norse and Danish they raided up and down the coast and often joined forces with the Picts to have a go at the Romans. Hence the legend of the Scottish Thistle emblem of Scotland http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/...e/thistle.html

All great Stuff Folks

John

[Riverkilt]

Well, my cousin Robert did the male DNA thing and we go back to Scandanavia. That sure fits with being Clan Donald, sons of Somerled.

Our ancestry - as far as we can trace it back so far - goes back to Uig on the West coast of the Trotternish Peninsula of Skye. Lots of Viking relics found there. And of course, Uig, Lewis was a major Viking Settlement.

Ron

[gilmore]

I thinks we need to look at a bit of history here. ....After reading some of Dr.Wilsons work in the past I would not rely on the accuracy especially on DNA of any bones of that period as the Picts cremated their dead (a parctice I am sure picked up from the bronze-age Scandinavian Beaker People, who settled in the East of Scotland) and there are few if any DNA evidence in the few surviving bones there is.

...

Yes, history, rather than myth and legend, much of it preserved in writing for the first time only hundreds of years after the events it purports to describe.

There was no testing of DNA contained in bones. If you read the article carefully, you will see that it was the DNA of "studies of Scots living on Islay, Lewis, Harris and Skye" that was researched.

[Sketraw]

Yes, history, rather than myth and legend, much of it preserved in writing for the first time only hundreds of years after the events it purports to describe.

There was no testing of DNA contained in bones. If you read the article carefully, you will see that it was the DNA of "studies of Scots living on Islay, Lewis, Harris and Skye" that was researched.

Hi Gilmore, That's my point!..... If you do not have a record of the DNA of the particular time (500AD or their abouts) you can not say for definite that it dates back to that particular time line in history. People from the Western Isles could have the DNA from people from a much later period. I would have no doubt there would be Irish/Scots blood in them you could almost swim to Ireland from the Western Isles.

Like the Vikings you don't need to prove through DNA that they traveled around the top of Scotland, probably using Orkney as a staging post, the evidence is scattered all over the North and West. A good indication of their movements apart from digging up the ground, is the defence against them and the amount of Brochs built at the time for protection. If you look at a map with them marked on it you can see the pattern. Another sign of infiltration into Scotland from Ireland is the amount of Celtic Standing Stones with a great number in the west but virtually no early ones in the east. The Pictish standing stones of the east are totally different from the Celtic ones in the west again a sign of Irish (religious) connections.

Don't get me wrong, DNA for sure has its place as it can prove in history who they were not perhaps, but more difficult to to prove whom they were descended from without the ancient DNA, yes it can prove a link but very difficult to fix it in a particular time line.

I think caution in pre-history DNA should be shown.

Interesting Stuff

John

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think Duncan of Sketraw has raised a very valid point: there is no "base line" against which to measure the veracity of the study, or to conclusively agree with its findings.

[gilmore]

...Don't get me wrong, DNA for sure has its place as it can prove in history who they were not perhaps, but more difficult to to prove whom they were descended from without the ancient DNA, yes it can prove a link but very difficult to fix it in a particular time line.

...

Not at all.

See the FAQ at www.familytreedna.com

Y DNA mutates at a predictably consistant rate. By comparing Y DNA from 2 (or more) living men, a fairly accurate prediction can be made as to when their most recent common ancestor lived.

Further, genetic genealogists are able to identify with increasing precision, as more and more men are tested, the geographic location of their most recent common ancestor.

[Colonel MacNeal]

This study does not take into account all the routine passage of DNA which has occurred over the centuries.

[wvpiper]

Clues to ancient invasion in DNA

DNA may hold clues to an ancient movement from Ireland to Scotland
Scientific evidence of an ancient invasion of Scotland from Ireland may have been uncovered by DNA techniques. ............
Early historical sources recount how the Gaels came from Ireland about 500 AD and conquered the Picts in Argyll. ...............................

Scientists said the study was the first demonstration of a significant Irish genetics component in Scots' ancestry.

I don't mean to be obtuse, or argumentative, but isn't it already known that peoples moved back and forth? Didn't we already know that the Scoti came from Dalraida (Northern Ireland) Is this DNA evidence, that the Scottish Celts and Irish Celts are related, really any surprise?