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Archiver > NORTHUMBRIA > 2004-07 > 1089407694


From: Brian Pears <>
Subject: Re: [NMB] Vindolanda
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2004 22:14:54 +0100
References: <40EEB111.701D366A@roadrunner.nf.net><006801c465d1$03aa9e20$eec12950@oemcomputer>
In-Reply-To: <006801c465d1$03aa9e20$eec12950@oemcomputer>


DJohnson <> wrote:
>A Liverpool University archaeologist; Mr Richard Benjamin, has called
>for the DNA testing of Border folk to prove genetic links with modern
>day North Africans.
> See http://tinyurl.com/2fypg
>
>It's an interesting article.

Derick

See also: http://tinyurl.com/2qkey

I don't think there's any doubt at all that there were black
African units on the wall and units from as far east as modern
Syria in the area too - and no doubt whatsoever that men from
these regiments married into the local population and are
the ancestors of many of the modern populace of this area.

If this can be proved by DNA analysis then it would be useful
to help convince the many who simply will not believe the
possibility of them having black ancestry.

Note that the article mentions Emperor Septimius Severus
who was black (father Libyan, mother Etruscan) and who
personally oversaw the rebuilding of the Wall over the period
197-208 - he even died in region (York in 211).

Cheers, Brian
--
Brian Pears (Gateshead, UK) http://www.swinhope.myby.co.uk/
Joint Listowner NORTHUMBRIA Genealogy Mailing List
GENUKI Northumberland Maintainer

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