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OT for @DavidM: Vikings may not be who we thought they were; DNA study reveals Southern European & Asian ancestry

ChiTownLion

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May 29, 2001
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VIKINGS MAY NOT BE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE, DNA STUDY FINDS

"THE HISTORY BOOKS WILL NEED TO BE UPDATED."

vikings.jpg


HISTORY BOOKS TYPICALLY DEPICT VIKINGS as blue-eyed, blonde-haired, burly men sailing the North Atlantic coast to pillage wherever they set foot on land. While some of that may be true, a new genetic study of Viking DNA is flipping much of this history on its head.

In the largest genetic study of Viking DNA ever, scientists have found that Vikings — and their diaspora — are actually much more genetically diverse than we may have thought and were not necessarily all part of a homogenous background.

Sequencing the genomes of over 400 Viking men, women, and children from ancient burial sites, researchers found evidence of genetic influence from Southern Europe and Asia in Viking DNA dating back to before the Viking Age (750 - 1050 A.D.).

The authors also note that individuals not related to Vikings genetically, such as native Pictish people of Scotland and Ireland, sometimes received traditional Viking burials — suggesting that being a Viking was not so much about specific family roots but about a sense of internal identity.

TheFortress.jpg


In the study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, an international team of researchers reports findings from their six-year-long study of 442 human remains from burial sites that date back between the Bronze Age (2400 B.C.) to the Early Modern period (1600 A.D.)

When comparing the genetic material of these ancient samples with 3,855 present-day individuals from regions like the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden, and data from 1,118 ancient individuals, they discovered more intermixing of genetic material than they'd originally imagined, lead author and director of The Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Copenhagen, Eske Willerslev, said in a statement.

"We have this image of well-connected Vikings mixing with each other, trading and going on raiding parties to fight Kings across Europe because this is what we see on television and read in books — but genetically we have shown for the first time that it wasn't that kind of world," explains Willerslev.

"This study changes the perception of who a Viking actually was — no one could have predicted these significant gene flows into Scandinavia from Southern Europe and Asia happened before and during the Viking Age."

6487ff7c-bda9-4541-a09d-a4e6b2ef1575-southern-europe-viking.jpg


Based on these results, Willerslev says that even well-known imagery of Vikings being blonde and blue-eyed (like Chris Hemsworth's depiction of Thor) may not be totally true, especially for Vikings with Southern European roots. The authors write that their analysis also confirmed some long-held theories and hunches about the movement of Vikings during this time.

WHAT'D THEY FIND — One of the first hunches that the study was able to confirm was the final destination of different threads of Viking migration from modern-day Scandinavia.

The DNA of ancient Danish Vikings cropped up in England while Norwegian Viking DNA was found in Ireland, Iceland, and Greenland. Unexpectedly though, they also found evidence of DNA similar to present-day Swedish populations in the western edge of Europe and DNA similar to modern Danish populations further east.

The researchers write that this unexpected discovery suggests that complex settling, trading, and raiding networks during these times resulted in communities of mixed ancestry.


Even more, the study's analysis shows that this mixed ancestry was taking place even before the so-called Viking Age, explains Martin Sikora, a lead author on the study and associate professor at the Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen.

"We found that Vikings weren't just Scandinavians in their genetic ancestry, as we analyzed genetic influences in their DNA from Southern Europe and Asia which has never been contemplated before," said Sikora. "Many Vikings have high levels of non-Scandinavian ancestry, both within and outside Scandinavia, which suggest ongoing gene flow across Europe."

828aaabb-3f6a-4985-bbc6-601029852e05-viking-burial.jpg


And some "Vikings" weren't of genetic Viking descent at all, researchers found when analyzing a Viking burial site in Orkney, Scotland. Despite being put to rest in traditional Viking style (including swords and other Viking memorabilia,) when sequencing the DNA of these remains the authors found that the two individuals buried at this site were in fact of Pictish (or, early-Irish and early-Scottish) decent.

The researchers write that this discovery suggests that being a Viking was not necessarily about how far back your Nordic roots reached but instead had more to do with one's lived identity.

"The results change the perception of who a Viking actually was," said Willerev. "The history books will need to be updated."

In addition to providing a more nuanced look at this transformational period of history, this new genetic insight can also help scientists better understand how different traits, like immunity, pigmentation, and metabolism, are selected for across genetic groups.

Full story for @DavidM: https://www.inverse.com/science/viking-dna-study
 
Thanks, Chi, but I'm not really shocked. The Norse people who traveled/raided/assimilated with other populations were warriors, and fighters from other cultures might have been welcome. And as far as the blond stereotype, a lot of Danes had/have brown or reddish hair. FWIW, I've got a new historical novel coming out in a few weeks--I think: The Viking Woman of Birka.
 
Thanks, Chi, but I'm not really shocked. The Norse people who traveled/raided/assimilated with other populations were warriors, and fighters from other cultures might have been welcome. And as far as the blond stereotype, a lot of Danes had/have brown or reddish hair. FWIW, I've got a new historical novel coming out in a few weeks--I think: The Viking Woman of Birka.
Good to hear you've been busy. For those who don't know, @DavidM has been cranking out some quality historical fictions about the Vikings. See his most recent addition, "Viking Warlord: A Saga of Thorkell the Great" (BWI link).

Amazon product ASIN 1727325508

How'd you like season three of Norsemen? The obsession with Jarl Varg's once-proud hairline was an unexpected but appropriate twist (almost a satire on Samson from biblical times) and the humor fell right into line with previous storylines. Would be great if they renewed it for another season as we binged right through the whole thing, but we've also discovered a number of other quality Scandinavian series on Netflix. Any recommendations from your side?
 
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Actually, I've been going s-l-o-w-l-y through Norsemen, saving episodes for times when I really need some laughs. Other than "The Last Kingdom" I'm not sure I'd recommend anything else.
 
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Actually, I've been going s-l-o-w-l-y through Norsemen, saving episodes for times when I really need some laughs. Other than "The Last Kingdom" I'm not sure I'd recommend anything else.
Wise move. We tried to string it out but didn't have the patience and now we find ourselves yearning for more.

Others worth looking into:
  • "Occupied" = political thriller in Norway.
  • "Lilyhammer" = "Sopranos" in Norway.
  • "Midsommar" puts a dark twist on Sweden's most-celebrated greatest holiday.
  • "Ragnarok" = Adultish "Smallville" for Thor in Norway.
  • "Caliphate" = "Homeland" in Sweden.
  • "Fallet" = "Fargo" in Sweden.
Would imagine @Midnighter might have something to add.
 
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Thanks, Chi, but I'm not really shocked. The Norse people who traveled/raided/assimilated with other populations were warriors, and fighters from other cultures might have been welcome. And as far as the blond stereotype, a lot of Danes had/have brown or reddish hair. FWIW, I've got a new historical novel coming out in a few weeks--I think: The Viking Woman of Birka.
I was in Denmark, briefly, about 30-35 years ago (took a day-trip Baltic ferry and explored Lolland). The thing that really surprised me was the quite large number of redheads (and not the odd, metallic bottle version you see in Germany, for example).
 
We have been watching “The Last Kingdom” on Netflix, which prompted me to start delving into the history of the time. This topic is quite timely for me. Finished the Norwegian Monty Python, Norsemen, before starting the Last Kingdom. Interesting stuff having comedy/fiction built around historical events. I have always liked history but did not have the space in my schedule to take any courses in college being a science major.
 
Wise move. We tried to string it out but didn't have the patience and now we find ourselves yearning for more.

Others worth looking into:
  • "Occupied" = political thriller in Norway.
  • "Lilyhammer" = "Sopranos" in Norway.
  • "Midsommar" puts a dark twist on Sweden's most-celebrated greatest holiday.
  • "Ragnarok" = Adultish "Smallville" for Thor in Norway.
  • "Caliphate" = "Homeland" in Sweden.
  • "Fallet" = "Fargo" in Sweden.
Would imagine @Midnighter might have something to add.

”Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” (Swedish trilogy and the US releases). Definitely “Midsommer” if you’re a horror/dread fan. Get to see a blood eagle...
 
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VIKINGS MAY NOT BE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE, DNA STUDY FINDS

"THE HISTORY BOOKS WILL NEED TO BE UPDATED."

vikings.jpg


HISTORY BOOKS TYPICALLY DEPICT VIKINGS as blue-eyed, blonde-haired, burly men sailing the North Atlantic coast to pillage wherever they set foot on land. While some of that may be true, a new genetic study of Viking DNA is flipping much of this history on its head.

In the largest genetic study of Viking DNA ever, scientists have found that Vikings — and their diaspora — are actually much more genetically diverse than we may have thought and were not necessarily all part of a homogenous background.

Sequencing the genomes of over 400 Viking men, women, and children from ancient burial sites, researchers found evidence of genetic influence from Southern Europe and Asia in Viking DNA dating back to before the Viking Age (750 - 1050 A.D.).

The authors also note that individuals not related to Vikings genetically, such as native Pictish people of Scotland and Ireland, sometimes received traditional Viking burials — suggesting that being a Viking was not so much about specific family roots but about a sense of internal identity.

TheFortress.jpg


In the study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, an international team of researchers reports findings from their six-year-long study of 442 human remains from burial sites that date back between the Bronze Age (2400 B.C.) to the Early Modern period (1600 A.D.)

When comparing the genetic material of these ancient samples with 3,855 present-day individuals from regions like the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden, and data from 1,118 ancient individuals, they discovered more intermixing of genetic material than they'd originally imagined, lead author and director of The Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Copenhagen, Eske Willerslev, said in a statement.

"We have this image of well-connected Vikings mixing with each other, trading and going on raiding parties to fight Kings across Europe because this is what we see on television and read in books — but genetically we have shown for the first time that it wasn't that kind of world," explains Willerslev.

"This study changes the perception of who a Viking actually was — no one could have predicted these significant gene flows into Scandinavia from Southern Europe and Asia happened before and during the Viking Age."

6487ff7c-bda9-4541-a09d-a4e6b2ef1575-southern-europe-viking.jpg


Based on these results, Willerslev says that even well-known imagery of Vikings being blonde and blue-eyed (like Chris Hemsworth's depiction of Thor) may not be totally true, especially for Vikings with Southern European roots. The authors write that their analysis also confirmed some long-held theories and hunches about the movement of Vikings during this time.

WHAT'D THEY FIND — One of the first hunches that the study was able to confirm was the final destination of different threads of Viking migration from modern-day Scandinavia.

The DNA of ancient Danish Vikings cropped up in England while Norwegian Viking DNA was found in Ireland, Iceland, and Greenland. Unexpectedly though, they also found evidence of DNA similar to present-day Swedish populations in the western edge of Europe and DNA similar to modern Danish populations further east.

The researchers write that this unexpected discovery suggests that complex settling, trading, and raiding networks during these times resulted in communities of mixed ancestry.


Even more, the study's analysis shows that this mixed ancestry was taking place even before the so-called Viking Age, explains Martin Sikora, a lead author on the study and associate professor at the Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen.

"We found that Vikings weren't just Scandinavians in their genetic ancestry, as we analyzed genetic influences in their DNA from Southern Europe and Asia which has never been contemplated before," said Sikora. "Many Vikings have high levels of non-Scandinavian ancestry, both within and outside Scandinavia, which suggest ongoing gene flow across Europe."

828aaabb-3f6a-4985-bbc6-601029852e05-viking-burial.jpg


And some "Vikings" weren't of genetic Viking descent at all, researchers found when analyzing a Viking burial site in Orkney, Scotland. Despite being put to rest in traditional Viking style (including swords and other Viking memorabilia,) when sequencing the DNA of these remains the authors found that the two individuals buried at this site were in fact of Pictish (or, early-Irish and early-Scottish) decent.

The researchers write that this discovery suggests that being a Viking was not necessarily about how far back your Nordic roots reached but instead had more to do with one's lived identity.

"The results change the perception of who a Viking actually was," said Willerev. "The history books will need to be updated."

In addition to providing a more nuanced look at this transformational period of history, this new genetic insight can also help scientists better understand how different traits, like immunity, pigmentation, and metabolism, are selected for across genetic groups.

Full story for @DavidM: https://www.inverse.com/science/viking-dna-study

My new Comic Book Super Hero:

Mao Tse Viking!
 
FWIW, there's actually a lot of genuinely historical Norse cultural stuff in the Norsemen series. A LOT!
 
Good to hear you've been busy. For those who don't know, @DavidM has been cranking out some quality historical fictions about the Vikings. See his most recent addition, "Viking Warlord: A Saga of Thorkell the Great" (BWI link).




How'd you like season three of Norsemen? The obsession with Jarl Varg's once-proud hairline was an unexpected but appropriate twist (almost a satire on Samson from biblical times) and the humor fell right into line with previous storylines. Would be great if they renewed it for another season as we binged right through the whole thing, but we've also discovered a number of other quality Scandinavian series on Netflix. Any recommendations from your side?

Read both of DavidM's recent books and enjoyed them.
Easy reads. Lots of historical context.

LdN
 
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The term "Aryan" has been projected to be synonymous with blue eyes and blonde hair because of what people think they know about Nazi racial theories- but "Aryan" refers to linguistic heritage that originated in India.

I thought it was common knowledge that Vikings traveled and mixed all the way down to the Mediterranean. This shouldn't really be a surprise to people who dont get their Viking history from those corny History Channel shows with dudes with tribal arm band tattoos and face tats playing the Vikings.
 
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I'm also not convinced on some of this DNA stuff when it comes to ethnicity. I've done the Ancestry one. The percentages keep changing. Or my wife's? The first pass stated 25% French. The second? 7%. There's no indication of French ancestry in her tree. They do ger her half-italian heritage close. Or the one from Family Tree DNA. According to Ancestry I'm 20% German. According to Family Tree, 0%. But I have a 100% German grandmother (and I've matched with kin from her parents) and possibly a German great-grandfather. My Brother started out at 48% German and is now down to 13%--with a supposed 11% Norwegian, which I do not have at all (and, yes, we do match up genetically as full brothers). That may be due to the fact that Germans in Germany are a bit skeptical of geneology, due to the connection of that hobby with the Third Reich, so they are not as well represented in the database. DNA is good for matching up with family, but perhaps not quite as good for ethnicity.
 
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I'm also not convinced on some of this DNA stuff when it comes to ethnicity. I've done the Ancestry one. The percentages keep changing. Or my wife's? The first pass stated 25% French. The second? 7%. There's no indication of French ancestry in her tree. They do ger her half-italian heritage close. Or the one from Family Tree DNA. According to Ancestry I'm 20% German. According to Family Tree, 0%. But I have a 100% German grandmother (and I've matched with kin from her parents) and possibly a German great-grandfather. My Brother started out at 48% German and is now down to 13%--with a supposed 11% Norwegian, which I do not have at all (and, yes, we do match up genetically as full brothers). That may be due to the fact that Germans in Germany are a bit skeptical of geneology, due to the connection of that hobby with the Third Reich, so they are not as well represented in the database. DNA is good for matching up with family, but perhaps not quite as good for ethnicity.

Exactly right. Lots of sloppy "scientific" assumptions made by DNA companies. Hell, I've responded on Facebook to a few people who announced that it had been confirmed that they were like 25 generations removed from Ragnar Lodbrok. The problem with that is that Ragnar is a substantially legendary Norse figure--who may never have lived. Plus the reliable records to base geneologies from mostly don't go that far back. It's like somebody declaring that he/she is descended from Paul Bunyan. Okayyyyyyyyyyy...
 
The term "Aryan" has been projected to be synonymous with blue eyes and blonde hair because of what people think they know about Nazi racial theories- but "Aryan" refers to linguistic heritage that originated in India.

I thought it was common knowledge that Vikings traveled and mixed all the way down to the Mediterranean. This shouldn't really be a surprise to people who dont get their Viking history from those corny History Channel shows with dudes with tribal arm band tattoos and face tats playing the Vikings.

It would make sense considering how many steppe peoples invaded Europe over the years from the scythians , to the Huns to eventually the Mongels. My DNA says I have something like .5% asian. If that is true, it would make sense since a lot of my family is from Ukraine which is right on the western part of the Steppe. All three of the steppe tribes above made it there.

This is a bit off topic but I am a huge fan of the Hardcore History podcast.
You can find the podcast on Itunes, but his series on the Khans is just insane.
 
I'm also not convinced on some of this DNA stuff when it comes to ethnicity. I've done the Ancestry one. The percentages keep changing. Or my wife's? The first pass stated 25% French. The second? 7%. There's no indication of French ancestry in her tree. They do ger her half-italian heritage close. Or the one from Family Tree DNA. According to Ancestry I'm 20% German. According to Family Tree, 0%. But I have a 100% German grandmother (and I've matched with kin from her parents) and possibly a German great-grandfather. My Brother started out at 48% German and is now down to 13%--with a supposed 11% Norwegian, which I do not have at all (and, yes, we do match up genetically as full brothers). That may be due to the fact that Germans in Germany are a bit skeptical of geneology, due to the connection of that hobby with the Third Reich, so they are not as well represented in the database. DNA is good for matching up with family, but perhaps not quite as good for ethnicity.
I have seen ancestry DNA results for identical twins and triplets that showed significant ancestry difference.
That should not be possible.
 
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