10-06-2006, 10:07 AM
As far as the genetics are concerned. Both Sykes and Oppenheimer use a hypothesis first made by Jim Wilson in 2001.
His hypothesis was based on the suggestion that the Basques represent the Paleolithic population of europe. Wilson argued that levels of R1b was so high amongst Basques, any later derivatives of it in europe must be derived from this paleolithic population. The high levels found in Ireland and North Wales therefore must be indicative of their origin from somewhere in the Iberian peninsular.
The hypothesis, which was well reasoned and which was well supported by other earlier findings was nonetheless, just a hypothesis. Indeed Jim Wilson stated:
"We know of no other study, however, that provides direct evidence of a close relationship in the paternal heritage of the Basque- and the Celtic speaking populations of Britain."
Since 2004 however, R1b has been more thoroughly investigated and it now seems likely that its distribution is indicative of several migratory paths. In 2005, Jim Wilson stated:
"At the moment we are on the cusp of learning something very important about R1b."
Moreover, in a study in 2006 comparing 3 separate Basque populations with 20 from various parts of Europe and the near East, Santos Alonso found that:
"Contrary to previous suggestions, we do not observe any particular link between Basques and Celtic populations beyond that provided by the Paleolithic ancestry common to European populations, nor we find evidence supporting Basques as the focus of major population expansions."
It would appear therefore that, given Wilson's important caveat and given the new data, equating British R1b with paleolithic Iberians is premature.
Harry A
His hypothesis was based on the suggestion that the Basques represent the Paleolithic population of europe. Wilson argued that levels of R1b was so high amongst Basques, any later derivatives of it in europe must be derived from this paleolithic population. The high levels found in Ireland and North Wales therefore must be indicative of their origin from somewhere in the Iberian peninsular.
The hypothesis, which was well reasoned and which was well supported by other earlier findings was nonetheless, just a hypothesis. Indeed Jim Wilson stated:
"We know of no other study, however, that provides direct evidence of a close relationship in the paternal heritage of the Basque- and the Celtic speaking populations of Britain."
Since 2004 however, R1b has been more thoroughly investigated and it now seems likely that its distribution is indicative of several migratory paths. In 2005, Jim Wilson stated:
"At the moment we are on the cusp of learning something very important about R1b."
Moreover, in a study in 2006 comparing 3 separate Basque populations with 20 from various parts of Europe and the near East, Santos Alonso found that:
"Contrary to previous suggestions, we do not observe any particular link between Basques and Celtic populations beyond that provided by the Paleolithic ancestry common to European populations, nor we find evidence supporting Basques as the focus of major population expansions."
It would appear therefore that, given Wilson's important caveat and given the new data, equating British R1b with paleolithic Iberians is premature.
Harry A
Harry Amphlett
