Sicilian genetics.. why no east/west genetic division, but a phenotypical one?

[alfieb]

Why would it? the later Phoenicians, the Muslim Arab-Berbers, and even the Vandals came to us through North Africa.

[Sikeliot]

The original Phoenician settlers came directly from Lebanon, but their descendants (the Carthaginians) did so through North Africa.

For the record I now saw that some scholars do think the Sicanians were Illyrians, which would make much more sense based on what we know of Sicilian genetics than if they were Iberian.

[Peyrol]

Why would it? the later Phoenicians, the Muslim Arab-Berbers, and even the Vandals came to us through North Africa.

...and the lombards.
Some lombard settled in central-western part of the island in the Middle Ages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Italic_of_Sicily

[Sikeliot]

...and the lombards.
Some lombard settled in central-western part of the island in the Middle Ages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Italic_of_Sicily

That could explain, if not explained by Normans, a higher Northern Euro component in some.

[alfieb]

Anyway, RT, If any of our indigenous peoples came from the Maghreb, then the scientific community would not believe, as they currently do, that Malta was first colonized from Sicily thousands of years after our three 'indigenous' groups arrived in Sicily.

...and the lombards.
Some lombard settled in central-western part of the island in the Middle Ages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Italic_of_Sicily

Right. I've been to some of those towns (mostly Ciazza), the language is quite different from our own. I hope that it survives for the centuries to come, as they have enriched our history and culture with their presence.

[Vesuvian Sky]

Tough to put even into just a few categories. Sicily has had a rich array of demographic factors at play throughout the Island's history. I wouldn't discount any possibility from prehistoric times to late medieval as significantly influencing Sicilian genes in some manner.

[Peyrol]

Anyway, RT, If any of our indigenous peoples came from the Maghreb, then the scientific community would not believe, as they currently do, that Malta was first colonized from Sicily thousands of years after our three 'indigenous' groups arrived in Sicily.



Right. I've been to some of those towns (mostly Ciazza), the language is quite different from our own. I hope that it survives for the centuries to come, as they have enriched our history and culture with their presence.

Gaul-italic of Sicily is dying, unfortunately...

[alfieb]

Gaul-italic of Sicily is dying, unfortunately...

They say that Sicilian and Arbereshe are endangered also. Why? Italian government, Italian media, etc.

[Sikeliot]

Tough to put even into just a few categories. Sicily has had a rich array of demographic factors at play throughout the Island's history. I wouldn't discount any possibility from prehistoric times to late medieval as significantly influencing Sicilian genes in some manner.

Which groups?

I am almost inclined to believe that the single largest component in MOST Sicilians is now Greek, whether from east or western Sicily. Greeks colonized pretty much the whole island except parts of Trapani and Palermo, but there were Greek settlements all over during the Byzantine years.

Genetic testing does not support the idea to me that most of our ancestry is from the Sicanians, Sicels, and Elymians. Yet I am still inclined to believe that depending on the area, some towns will be more Norman than average, others more Phoenician and Carthaginian, etc.

I am unsure why I care about this given that Messina is predominantly a Greek descended area, so I can say with great certainty that I am at least 1/3 ancient Greek.

[alfieb]

I am unsure why I care about this given that Messina is predominantly a Greek descended area, so I can say with great certainty that I am at least 1/3 ancient Greek.

Because Sicilians are Sicilians, whether from Tràpani or Sarausa. The genetic history of one is part of the history of all.