Posted on 05/13/2006 10:43:55 AM PDT by blam
EXPERTS FIND RARE ROMANI DNA IN NORWICH ANGLO SAXON SKELETON
By Sarah Morley 12/05/2006
The recent discovery of Romani DNA in an Anglo Saxon skeleton has made experts re-think the nature of the city's early population. Picture courtesy Sophie Cabot. © HEART
Experts from Norfolk Archaeology Unit based at Norwich Castle have discovered a rare form of mitochondrial DNA identified as Romani in a skeleton discovered during excavations in a large area of Norwich for the expansion of the castle mall.
The DNA was found in an 11th century young adult male skeleton, and with the first recorded arrival of the Romani gene in this country put at 500 years later, historians may need to re-think the ethnic mix of the city's early population.
Norfolk Archaeological Unit’s lead archaeologist on the dig was Brian Ayres. He told the 24 Hour Museum: “The bones were of a late Saxon Christian. We know this because it was found in a graveyard associated with the church.”
Brian was on the scene when they discovered the DNA in the bones of the young Saxon male - out of the 59 skeletons sampled. Though the excavation was done around the early 90’s the results of the DNA testing has only recently been published to a specialist audience.
DNA testing is a completely revolutionary way of testing and dating bones to find out their origins. Modern methods only recently discovered allow for lots of new links to be made, such as finding where an individual originated from through their genes.
Extracting DNA from ancient bones is a complicated procedure involving removing the DNA from the tooth pulp as the hard tooth enamel preserves the gene. This form of mitochondrial DNA is passed down the female line and the identified gene is only found in the descendants of Romani. According to DNA records the first recorded Romani Gene found in England was in the 16th Century.
Extensive archaeological excavations have unearthed both Roman and Anglo-Saxon finds in and around Norwich. © Norwich City Council
The find is exciting because it paints a more diverse picture of ancient Norwich. Although Norwich has a rich history of cultural diversity, the discovery of first recorded Romani Gene in the country points to new levels of diversity.
“This exciting find emphasises a more cosmopolitan Anglo-Scandinavian society,” explained Brian who went on to say not only does this find show Norwich as an early multi-ethnic society but it gives a wider indication of a more fluid world in the 11th Century, where humans were constantly moving from country to country.
Romani people have a bloody history of persecution, murder and banishment in almost every country they entered. They were accused of witchcraft and almost every crime imaginable. They originated from the ancient warrior classes of North India and are closely linked to the culture of the Punjabi people, also of North India.
The Romani people are known to have been in Byzantine Empire in the 10th century, so it is thought that the only way the Romani Gene could be found in this country so early is if the previous historical records are mistaken.
Another possibility is that if the Anglo-Saxons were also in Byzantium in the 10th century, relations between the Anglo Saxons and the Romani people may have led to the spread of the Romani Gene to Norwich, England.
bttt
Also, most cats in Europe and North America came from Egypt. The Egyptian religion treated cats as gods and to kill one could lead to your demise. The Romans took Egyptian cats with them to Rome and all over the empire. Eventually they came to America. They kept the rodent population down.
Or ask Cher.
LOL!
Herodotus has some amusing material on Egyptians' attitudes about cats. He says that if a house catches on fire, they don't try to put out the fire, but instead try to prevent any cats from running inside the house (which they supposedly tried to do).
I think a lot of mummified cats have been found from ancient Egypt.
I believe cats have not been domesticated as long as dogs. We have three cats and they don't like it when we go away for a weekend. They are very attached to their people.
Uhhh . . . that's 'staff' They're very attached to their staff. [grin]
He doesn't bring charges where there's actual DNA evidence.
"The mitochondrial DNA could not have come from Roman troops."
I was not suggesting that a find from the 11th century had anything to do with the Roman period. What I was calling attention to was the fact that populations from Eurasia were at various times introduced into the British Isles, over and above the Ango Saxon conquests. There may be all kinds of surprising genetic traces found in the future in many places as the number of studies increases.
I went back and reread my #8 post. There, I clearly stated that Mitochondrial DNA is inherited through a female. I proposed that Gypsy traders and family might have been in England earlier than previously believed.
What I said about the Romans, who have nothing to do with the Roma (Gypsy) people, was merely to point out earlier non Anglo Saxon influxes of Eurasian people. I know that the MDNA would not be from the men, but what was Roman policy on wives and campfollowers being transported with their troops? Remember, someone had to do the cooking and sewing.
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Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution. |
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