Orcadians, people in and from Orkney, demonstrate genetic roots stemming from Picts (Iron Age), Vikings from Norway, and Scots. See note of it as a trading hub, thus spreading, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orcadian. The Orcadian is one of the 52 population groups represented by the Human Genome Diversity Project, from collecting blood samples from around the world.
Some critics say that the project overloads Europeans, but others say to wait until the results are in, as the process is ongoing and had to start somewhere. See Archeology Magazine, May-June 2006 at p.48 (map, discussion). and http://www.hgalert.org/topics/personalInfo/hgdp.htm.
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Picts: many sources seem to point back to Thrace for early peoples, or to the Scythians (we found that for Ireland in particular). Our favorite Orkney site is Orkneyjar, see http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/picts/earlyaccounts.htm. There was a Welsh historian, Nennius, who records matrilinear descent matters and other bits.
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Click on Images in the left-hand menu of Orkneyjar for fine photos.
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Pictish history. It seems clear now that Pictish settlements predated the Viking, see http://www.heritagedaily.com/2011/08/pict-were-on-the-orkney-islands-before-the-vikings/ So what happened then? Heritage Daily notes that there is no evidence yet of the two combining. The search there was beneath Viking houses, to find Pictish, and also with settlement areas.
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The Picts disappeared under the Viking onslaught, see http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/vikingorkney/takeover.htm, not even leaving their place names behind; but their genes went on apparently, uncombined. Did they just leave?
Some critics say that the project overloads Europeans, but others say to wait until the results are in, as the process is ongoing and had to start somewhere. See Archeology Magazine, May-June 2006 at p.48 (map, discussion). and http://www.hgalert.org/topics/personalInfo/hgdp.htm.
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Picts: many sources seem to point back to Thrace for early peoples, or to the Scythians (we found that for Ireland in particular). Our favorite Orkney site is Orkneyjar, see http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/picts/earlyaccounts.htm. There was a Welsh historian, Nennius, who records matrilinear descent matters and other bits.
.
Click on Images in the left-hand menu of Orkneyjar for fine photos.
.
Pictish history. It seems clear now that Pictish settlements predated the Viking, see http://www.heritagedaily.com/2011/08/pict-were-on-the-orkney-islands-before-the-vikings/ So what happened then? Heritage Daily notes that there is no evidence yet of the two combining. The search there was beneath Viking houses, to find Pictish, and also with settlement areas.
.
The Picts disappeared under the Viking onslaught, see http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/vikingorkney/takeover.htm, not even leaving their place names behind; but their genes went on apparently, uncombined. Did they just leave?
