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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2006-08 > 1155585272


From: Alan R <>
Subject: Irish/ Scots clans, Dalriada, R1b etc
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:54:32 +0100 (BST)


Hello all,

I have decided to join and hopefully contribute to
this group after gaining some basic understanding of
the terminology (if not the science!) of
archaeogentics over the last year and following the
archived contributions here for a few months. I am a
professional archaeologist based in Ireland and have
an interest in Early Christian (and, to a lesser
degree, full Medieval) political and lineage groupings
in Ireland and Scotland. I produced an undergraduate
thesis relating to the Ireland-based part of the
kingdom of Dalriada with a degree of work on the
Scottish side too. I carried out a great deal of
further work on this subject about 10 years ago
producing a (still unfinished-life has got in the
way!) post-graduate thesis on the same subject greatly
expanded. I also have an interest in the prehistoric
period in Ireland, especially the Mesolithic (initial
peopling of Ireland) and the Late Bronze Age/Iron Age
(the Celticisation of the island).

The subjects of the initial peopling of Ireland, the
Celticisation of the island and the extension of
Gaelic language and society to Scotland have obviously
also been very interesting to people interested in
archaeogenetics and genealogy. However, I feel that
the interpretations and even the approaches to
archaeogenetics in my areas of interest have often
been affected by the excellent genetics being married
to confused/ partial/ oversimplified historical and
archaeological interpretations and assumptions. Early
Irish and Scottish history and clan genealogies
represent very specialised areas of knowledge that are
total minefields unless you really know your stuff. I
hope to shortly make a few contributions in these
areas and find time to post my thoughts on the issues
of R1b NW Irish, R1b Scots, Dalriada and suggest new
approaches/ interpretations.

Alan

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