The Genetic Link of the Viking–Era Norse to Central Asia: An Assessment...

[SuuT]

***(This is very lengthy and complex, but it is also very controversial [or perhaps not] and worth the read)


The Genetic Link of the Viking – Era Norse to Central Asia:
An Assessment of the Y Chromosome DNA, Archaeological,
Historical and Linguistic Evidence


Abstract

There is general agreement that by 8000 BC the retreat of the glaciers had left most of Scandinavia open for human settlement; that there has likely been continuous settlement in Norway and Sweden since this time. It is generally accepted that descendants of these hunter – gatherers from three southern European glacial refugia ultimately became the Scandinavian Vikings circa 800 AD. What has not been adequately addressed is the evidence demonstrating that there was a significant movement of people, as well as their horses and cultural traditions, from Central Asia to Scandinavia in the years immediately prior to the Viking - Era. Many or most explorations of the matter have assumed that trade explains the appearance of all the Central Asian finds in Scandinavia. What this approach fails to explain is the presence of Scandinavians with DNA signatures that are not European, but which bear a direct link to the Caucasus Mountain and Central Asian regions. It is also argued here that it was this population shift and consequent cultural upheavals that sparked the Scandinavian expansions in the years to follow. What makes the present study entirely different from those who have addressed (often somewhat controversially) this matter is the reliance on Y chromosome genetic evidence. Historical, linguistic, archaeological data sources are used to support the Central Asian migration hypothesis. The focus of the present study is to cross – validate these other sources of evidence by analyzing the results of testing of the non – recombining part of the Y chromosome (NRY). This male lineage marker is known for its power as a tool in the exploration of human population movements. In this case it is shown that not only did human groups migrate from Central Asia to Scandinavia, but in addition genetic evidence concludes that the horses so important in Scandinavian life also originated in Mongolia, and were brought to Scandinavia at approximately the same time as the proposed migration of humans. It is argued that these people with a long history of using horses and ships to extract wealth and territory from opponents are the most likely candidates for the leaders of those who founded the Norse colonies such as the Shetland Islands circa 800AD and Iceland circa 870AD. The most important contribution of the present study is to use Y-DNA genetic databases with samples scattered from Mongolia to Britain to show the continuity of genetic marker patterns from the Shetland Islands and other Norse colonies to groups such as the Altai of Central Asia, and the Azeri of Azerbaijan, and the lack of similarity of this subset of the Scandinavian population to local
Eastern Europeans...

http://www.davidkfaux.org/CentralAsi...NAEvidence.pdf
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[Edenrose]

Sorry, not converted.

[Atlas]

Edenrose : http://www.theapricity.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

[Lenny]

Uhh, what?

The hypothesis is that Central-Asian Mongoloids were the founding core stock of the people [or, their aristocracy] that became the northern-Germanics? That's...weird.

Unless they mean that it was Nordics from Central-Asia (and there were certainly plenty of those in prehistory; it's where they evolved in all likelihood), in which case that makes some sense.

This:

the horses so important in Scandinavian life also originated in Mongolia, and were brought to Scandinavia at approximately the same time as the proposed migration of humans

...suggests that the author(s) mean the former, though.

I didn't read the whole PDF, does anyone who did read it want to offer some highlights?

[Brännvin]

David Faux, work is extremely controversial, there is no proof that what he calls, the haplogroup I is the dominant in Scandinavia followed by R1b and R1a.

Based on such theory of it, all Europeans without exception are Asians.

The hypothesis is that Central-Asian Mongoloids were the founding core stock of the people [or, their aristocracy] that became the northern-Germanics? That's...weird.

Very dubious both from a historical perspective and "a genetic".

[Lenny]

David Faux, work is extremely controversial, there is no proof that what he calls, the haplogroup I is the dominant in Scandinavia followed by R1b and R1a.

I always heard that "I" evolved in Europe and was associated with the holdouts in Central-Europe during the ice age.

Is he saying it is Oriental in origin? Baed on--?

[Electronic God-Man]

I'm only on page 5 so far, but the author is definitely saying that there was large-scale migration from Central Asia to Scandinavia, which possibly replaced many of the indigenous peoples and traditions.

Evidence apparently being that they find a surprisingly high amount of Asian DNA in areas settled by the Norse (Q, R1a1, and K Y-DNA haplogroups), the sheer amount of artifacts that point to a connection between Scandinavia and Central Asia is possibly too great to be merely from trade, and other things like the Aesir = Azeri (as in Azerbaijan) theory.

[Psychonaut]

Come on guys. A scholarly essay has been presented. Disagreeing with the author's thesis is well and good, but doing so without having read what he has to say is a sure fire way to inadvertently concoct strawman arguments.

[Brännvin]

The sheer amount of artifacts that point to a connection between Scandinavia and Central Asia is possibly too great to be merely from trade, and other things like the Aesir = Azeri (as in Azerbaijan) theory.

Based on what, this will not only Scandinavia, but throughout Europe.

And claimed by whom, Thor Heyerdahl. This is extremely disputed, without mentioning that David Faux plagiarism of Heyerdahl theory.

Heyerdahl is extremely controversial inside the academic circles..

[Bloodeagle]

Ah, where is Oswiu? I feel like getting a good brow beating today!