Because most philosophies that frown on reproduction don't survive.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Genetic History Bleg

Could anyone point me to some articles or studies on comparative DNA studies of burials from Roman Europe and modern Europe which would provide concrete evidence as to the extent to which the Germanic tribes that invaded Briton, Gaul, Spain, in the 5th and 6th centuries actually replaced the original inhabitants, as opposed to imposing at thing and eventually absorbed elite?

Also:

Same question in re the Slavs replacing the original inhabitants of Illyrium.

Again as regards Arabs replacing the earlier Mesopotamians.

Were the ancestors of the Vikings in Denmark and Norway back in the Roman period, or did they move in there from farther East in the late Roman period?

Suggestions as to good books dealing with these mass migrations welcome.

However, I'm specifically looking for materials which substantiate with genetic evidence whether there was true replacement (or extermination) rather than merely cultural imposition. I'm not looking for something which just talks about language, culture and artifact changes. I want to know: to what extent was the old population pushed out/wiped out by the new population.

2 comments:

Benjamin Espen said...

Try this: The Peopling of Europe

Tom Simon said...

Here’s an article specifically on Anglo-Saxon genetic markers in England:

http://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/19/7/1008/

Short-short summary: 12 Y-chromosome alleles are distributed widely in England, Friesland, and Norway, but not in Wales: evidence of a large-scale replacement of the male population in England by Germanic migrants.

Is that the kind of thing you’re looking for?