Ancient DNA Reveals Scandinavians in Britain Centuries Before Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
A new genetic analysis of an ancient Roman soldier or gladiator buried in
York has uncovered surprising evidence: 25% of his ancestry traces back to
Scandinavia. This discovery suggests that individuals with Scandinavian
roots lived in Britain centuries before the Anglo-Saxon migration or the
Viking raids.
The Anglo-Saxon influx began in the fifth century, and Vikings famously launched their first major raid on Lindisfarne in AD793. However, this new research shows that Scandinavian ancestry was present in Britain between AD100 and AD300, reshaping assumptions about ancient migrations.
Dr. Leo Speidel, the study’s lead author from Riken, a Japanese research institute, highlighted the significance: “Ancestry thought to have arrived with the Anglo-Saxons may, in some cases, have already been there.”
The study, published in Nature, utilized a novel approach to ancient DNA analysis, focusing on recent genetic mutations from the past 30,000 years. This method enables researchers to better distinguish genetically similar populations, such as those living in Europe during the first millennium.
“This breakthrough offers a new way to answer questions about ancient human movements,” said co-author Dr. Pontus Skoglund from the Francis Crick Institute.
The team analyzed over 1,500 genomes, uncovering two major migration waves from northern Germany and Scandinavia into other parts of Europe early in the first millennium. Surprisingly, they also identified a reverse migration into Scandinavia between AD500 and AD800, which significantly altered the region’s genetic makeup during the Viking Age.
The research sheds light on the Viking expansion as well. Genetic evidence from mass graves in Britain suggests many individuals were southern Scandinavian Vikings who met violent ends.
Beyond its historical revelations, the study underscores the potential of ancient DNA to fill gaps in written records, which are often biased. Dr. Speidel emphasized, “With ancient DNA, we can now delve into the lives of people overlooked by history.
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