DNA Sequencing Megathread! Neanderthals, Denisovans and other ancient DNA!

[Threviel]

The british history podcast talked a bit about this. And I know I have seen it discussed elsewhere that vikings originated in Scandinavia, but the long campaigns made it a way of life and they picked up a lot of people on the way.

[The Brain]

All my life I've heard and read that there was a lot of movement and contacts in the Viking world. I don't think I've ever read that Vikings were all blond and blue-eyed. Which long-established truth will they kill next, the horned helmets?

[The Minsky Moment]

There is nothing unusual about the notion of cultures expanding via the spread of cultural packages; pots are not people and all that.

I've mentioned this pretty much any time the subject came up, but I am always somewhat skeptical on any theory involving large scale population movements in relatively short periods of time in pre-modern times.  The logistical problems inherent in moving large groups of people tend to be under-rated.

[PDH]

Yes, they had far fewer trains back then.

[crazy canuck]

There is nothing unusual about the notion of cultures expanding via the spread of cultural packages; pots are not people and all that.

I've mentioned this pretty much any time the subject came up, but I am always somewhat skeptical on any theory involving large scale population movements in relatively short periods of time in pre-modern times.  The logistical problems inherent in moving large groups of people tend to be under-rated.

They had airports during the revolutionary war!  At the very least there were cruise liners during the Viking age.

[Tamas]

The article sez the untermensch blood is from before the Viking age started.

[The Minsky Moment]

What it says is that there was genetic inflow into Scandinavia before, during, and after the Viking Age (the study covers 4000 years of time) and that non-Scandinavians outside Scandinavians adopted "Viking" culture.

[Valmy]

What it says is that there was genetic inflow into Scandinavia before, during, and after the Viking Age (the study covers 4000 years of time) and that non-Scandinavians outside Scandinavians adopted "Viking" culture.

That is pretty common in Europe though. It wasn't like the Celts were some massive invading army so much as they were a culture that spread around.

[The Minsky Moment]

Just so.

[The Brain]

And the Germans. There was a lot of pottery trade in the early 40s.

[viper37]

I don't think I've ever read that Vikings were all blond and blue-eyed.

I think it's pretty much what I was told in high school.  Well not ALL blond and blue-eyed, but mostly.  And that blue eyed&pale hair people whose ancestors came from Normandy likely had a drop of Viking blood.

I think it's a common myth outside of Scandinavia.

Which long-established truth will they kill next, the horned helmets?

You mean this ain't a true representation of Vikings?

[Malthus]

I don't think I've ever read that Vikings were all blond and blue-eyed.

I think it's pretty much what I was told in high school.  Well not ALL blond and blue-eyed, but mostly.  And that blue eyed&pale hair people whose ancestors came from Normandy likely had a drop of Viking blood.

I think it's a common myth outside of Scandinavia.

Which long-established truth will they kill next, the horned helmets?

You mean this ain't a true representation of Vikings?

Clearly not - as can be seen, they are getting their asses kicked by Frenchmen. Totally un-historical. 

[Josquius]

I decided to check my numbers again. Its curious how 23 and me and my heritage interpret the same numbers so differently.
In 23 and me I'm very boringly overwhelmingly british and Irish - how I wish they'd delve into this a bit more. I've read about how DNA differs across the UK and I don't get why they're not going into this.
80% UK+Ireland, 10% French +German, 2% Scandi, 8% broadly NW European and some funny fragments from West Asia now (my Japanese percentage vanished a while ago-probably an error due to white people in Japan).

My heritage on the other hand.... They slightly break down British however for some bizzare reason into two, English and then Irish, Scottish, and Welsh as one category. Just... No. This doesn't align with science at all.
My Scandi goes up to 9% with 4% Finnish too, the French and German is nowhere to be seen and instead I get  8% Eastern European....

I wish they'd report a bit more on how they came to these numbers.

[Josquius]

23 and me has updated.
98% British and Irish now.

[Tamas]

8% Eastern European....

There's hope for you yet, then.