Too Much Knowledge Disruptive To My Stereotypes

[ForresterModern]

As the Picts were the original "Scots", or at least inhabitants of what is now known as Scotland, and as the Picts did not have much if any written history, and were absorbed into the other culttures that invaded and "settled" Scotland (Celtic Scots from Ireland, vikings from Denmark, Norway, etc.., invading Normans and Brittons, with the residual ancient Roman genetic influence---well we are all Mutts, even if we can claim 100% Scottish ancestry going back centuries. Scotland was a much warred over part of the world---not necessarily regularly conquered, but at least repetitively transiently settled by various races over time.

My family name, Foster, from the Scottish and English Forrester, is likely a derivative of Forrestierre, one of William the Conquerors first lieutenants who was granted significant lands at the north end of what William conquered, namely up to about the Firth of Forth, so my family name is actually french/flemish in origin and my roots in scotland settled in the northern lowlands around Midlothian/Edinburgh extending west to Stirling and maybe a bit further toward glasgow. But then again we are septs of both Douglas (notorious lowlanders) and MacDonalds (notorious west Islanders and Highlanders). so who really knows for sure, unless you can really trace your pedigee piece by piece back for centuries.

I am still trying to find out where my first ancestor to land on the american shores actually landed, and from whence he came originally in the old world. Waiting on a book which may help me. Am still considering the DNA thing but waiting for now.

[Phil]

You didn't mention the Romans. Bloody Roman. They made it to Brittan, and you know some freaked out early Brits (I forget what 'tribe' they would have been) probably fled north, and intermarried, and I'm sure some Romans left some, um, souvenirs, when they left. And those Romans really liked to mix things up....

Although the Romans made forays into Scotland they never actually conquered or governed the place, preferring to build walls (Hadrian's & Antonine) to keep the natives out, at that time the Picts. The Scots didn't arrive until much later (see the Dalriada post). In fact, unlike England with William the Conqueror, no foreign power ever conquered and ruled Scotland, which only lost its ruler when he went south to take over England's crown. Also the majority of Roman soldiers employed on these outposts of empire would have been recruited fairly locally, Gaul or those early Brits you mentioned. In those days nearly every hill fort in England was a separate "kingdom" - a much different place to nowadays.

[Pleater]

We all came out of Africa - I forget how few people the entire population of the world has been researched back to. Only a couple of thousand, I believe.

The Human population has crashed due to natural disasters over time, way back in prehistory Humans were very much a diverse lot - but from combined research into the fossil record, such as it is, and DNA, from those willing to give permission to use it, seems to indicate that there was a time when the entire Human race was reduced down to a few small family groups in Africa.

By analysing the gradual changes in people worldwide, following the DNA trail back reveals where groups separated and developed different small changes after they were isolated from eachother.

It can even be shown where male invaders brought women with them and where not.

The book 'The Blood of the Isles' which I do not have to hand so I can't tell you the publisher or author, is an interesting read on this subject.

There are some oddities which show up unexpected genetic differences, and coupled with a few fossil finds of individuals with both Neanderthal and Sapiens features it does suggest that there was interbreeding.

The concepts of 'pure bred' or Uber/Unter menchen, are all based on a falacy.

We are all of one blood, all decended from a few survivors.

Some people took a different fork in the valley, or found a place to cross a river, or spotted something that looked good for dinner and went after it - and that is all that makes them different now.

Anne the Pleater

[Downix]

We all came out of Africa - I forget how few people the entire population of the world has been researched back to. Only a couple of thousand, I believe.

The Toba catastrophe theory

[piperdbh]

[QUOTE=Pleater;655004] Some people took a different fork in the valley, or found a place to cross a river, or spotted something that looked good for dinner and went after it - and that is all that makes them different now. [QUOTE]

That and their choice of tartan/solid/tweed, wool/wool blend/synthetic, knife/box pleat, white/cream/oatmeal/red/black/purple/tartan/diced/argyll hose, garters/flashes, ghillies/buckles, PC/Argyll/Sheriffmuir, Jacobite/T/jabot shirt and just a few other minor details.

[davedove]

The Toba catastrophe theory

I have read that because of this event, there is less genetic diversity among all of humanity than there is among single chimpanzee family groups.

[Ancienne Alliance]

And the Normans were originally Vikings ("Northmen = Norman").

Todd

The Normans are French today .
I'm not really sure they identified themselves as such 900 years ago... even though they were living on a territory we now call France.

Best,


Robert

[davedove]

As the Picts were the original "Scots", or at least inhabitants of what is now known as Scotland,

And since they were there before the Scots, they were from Caledonia, the Roman name for the area.

[macwilkin]

The Normans are French today .
I'm not really sure they identified themselves as such 900 years ago... even though they were living on a territory we now call France.

Best,


Robert

Robert, I never said they were not French. However, the do have Scandinavian heritage, as any historian/scholar will tell you.

Ron was discussing his possible Scandinavian heritage, as well as some French blood. I was simply pointing out the irony that the Normans also had Viking in them, thereby recognising them as part of France.

Todd

[Ancienne Alliance]

Robert, I never said they were not French. However, the do have Scandinavian heritage, as any historian/scholar will tell you.

Ron was discussing his possible Scandinavian heritage, as well as some French blood. I was simply pointing out the irony that the Normans also had Viking in them, thereby recognising them as part of France.

Todd

Oups ! My English really isn't up to standard !
For I ment to say exactly what you are saying .

Perhaps I should have said : "The Normans have only been recently considered French (hence my bold "today")

Thanks for being patient with me .

Best,
Robert