masterblaster72 0 #1 March 6, 2007 from here QuoteBritain and Ireland are so thoroughly divided in their histories that there is no single word to refer to the inhabitants of both islands. Historians teach that they are mostly descended from different peoples: the Irish from the Celts and the English from the Anglo-Saxons who invaded from northern Europe and drove the Celts to the country’s western and northern fringes. 1066 and All That But geneticists who have tested DNA throughout the British Isles are edging toward a different conclusion. Many are struck by the overall genetic similarities, leading some to claim that both Britain and Ireland have been inhabited for thousands of years by a single people that have remained in the majority, with only minor additions from later invaders like Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Vikings and Normans. The implication that the Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh have a great deal in common with each other, at least from the geneticist’s point of view, seems likely to please no one. The genetic evidence is still under development, however, and because only very rough dates can be derived from it, it is hard to weave evidence from DNA, archaeology, history and linguistics into a coherent picture of British and Irish origins. Fascinating stuff, and I found this part to be particularly intriguing Quotethe principal ancestors of today’s British and Irish populations arrived from Spain about 16,000 years ago, speaking a language related to Basque. If true, it turns a lot of what we've been taught about the history of the British Isles/Ireland upside down. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dorbie 0 #2 March 6, 2007 Quote If true, it turns a lot of what we've been taught about the history of the British Isles/Ireland upside down. I don't agree with the last part at all. How does this affect 'textbook' history? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZJ 0 #3 March 7, 2007 Could be interesting if this research makes progress, but I thought this bit: "The implication that the Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh have a great deal in common with each other, at least from the geneticist’s point of view" was pretty meaningless - after all, from a geneticist's point of view, all humankind has a great deal in common with chimpanzees. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #4 March 7, 2007 QuoteCould be interesting if this research makes progress, but I thought this bit: "The implication that the Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh have a great deal in common with each other, at least from the geneticist’s point of view" was pretty meaningless - after all, from a geneticist's point of view, all humankind has a great deal in common with chimpanzees. OK, but the WELSH! I suppose it's better than the French.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZJ 0 #5 March 7, 2007 Well, thinking about it a little more, people in certain parts of the UK are closer to chimpanzees than others, but I doubt the researcher will say as much... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #6 March 7, 2007 They all seem to smell the same, too. Why is that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
