<< Feature Articles >> Who are we?
Submitted by Thorgrim on Sunday, 30 October 2005 Page Views: 3321
Discoveries
Dr Daniel Bradley, genetics lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, said a new study into Scottish and Irish origins revealed close affinities with the people of Galicia. (Cup and ring rock art is found in Galicia as well as northern Britain - Portal editor)
"It's well known that there are cultural relations between the areas but now this shows there is much more," Dr Bradley said. "We think the links are much older than that of the Iron Age because it also shows affinities with the Basque region - which isn't a Celtic region."
It was once widely believed that the Celts, originally from the Alpine regions of central Europe, invaded the Atlantic islands in a massive migration 2,500 years ago. But using DNA samples from people living in the so-called "Celtic" nations and other parts of Europe, geneticists at the university have drawn new parallels.
Dr Bradley said it was possible migrants moved from the Iberian peninsula to Ireland as far back as 6,000 years ago up until 3,000 years ago.
"I don't agree with the idea of a massive Iron Age invasion that took over the Atlantic islands. You can regard the ocean - rather than a barrier - as a communication route," Dr Bradley said.
The study headed by Dr Bradley is published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. It found that people in areas traditionally known as Celtic, such as Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittany and Cornwall, had strong links with each other and people in Ireland have more in common with Scots than any other nation. That should surprise no one as the Scots migrated to Scotland from Ireland around the 4th or 5th century AD. There are also close links between Scotland and Ireland dating back much further than the Plantations of the 1600s when many Scots moved to northern Ireland in search of fertile farming lands.
It should be made clear that the majority of the people of England are no different from those of the so-called "Celtic" lands of the west. Other DNA studies are showing that there was no mass invasion of Germanic Anglo-Saxons either. Certainly, the language and culture changed and became predominantly Germanic following the collapse of Roman rule, but the indigenous British people were not all exterminated or pushed into Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. They stayed on the land and inter-bred with the German newcomers. We are one closely related people and the separate nations that have caused so much conflict and division are very recent historical inventions.
Understanding that we are not descended from Celtic invaders should not diminish the fantastic cultural heritage of the people of Britain and Ireland. The wonderful stories, myths and legends told and retold from Welsh and Irish sources belong to us all and the credit should no longer be given to the Celts. Similarly, the fantastically beautiful Iron Age metalwork and jewellry formerly called "Celtic" should be reclaimed. As too should the illuminated manuscripts and superbly carved stone crosses of the early Christians.
It seems that the indigenous people of these islands have been here as a stable population for very much longer than we have been led to believe.
<< Speaking for the Stones: Challenging Threats to a Hidden Legacy
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.