Alex Iles
Alex Iles
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The problem with using modern DNA to understand ancient history | Bretton DNA
In this episode Alex breaks down a landmark study by Alves et al (2003) into the DNA make-up of ancient Brettons and how we’re using modern scientific techniques to further our understanding of ancient Bretton history, European History and our ancestors’ populations that came before us throughout Brittany.
The Study: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.03.478491v1.full
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Chapters:
00:00 The genetic population of Brittany by Alves et al
03:00 How we explore ancient DNA
04:30 The problem with the term “Viking DNA”
07:00 The genetic make-up of Brittany
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Who is Alex Iles?
I’m an Archeologist and tour guide based in the North East of England with a passion for British history. On this channel you can expect regular videos covering the history of the British Isles with a particular focus on the history of the North East of England.
I cover everything from Vikings and Anglo-Saxons to Medieval kings and even the odd Roman emperor! Welcome to your new home for British History content!
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Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk
My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK
Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk
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Introduction and Outro Video made by Lauren Kirkwood:
www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-kirkwood-9b8750191/
zhlédnutí: 4 478

Video

The Evolution Of An Iron Age Hill Fort | Humbleton Hill, Northumberland
zhlédnutí 754Před 21 hodinou
In this episode Alex breaks down the history of an Iron Age and potentially early Medieval English hill fort known as the location for one of England and Scotland’s most famous battles - the battle of Humbleton Hill. Alex reveals his theory behind the exciting history of this fort in this inspiring look back at British history in Northumberland. Chapters: 00:00 The History of Humbleton Hill (Ba...
The Mysterious History of a Romano-British Settlement | West Hill, Northumberland
zhlédnutí 1,6KPřed 14 dny
In this episode Alex breaks down the history of a Roman inspired hill fort north of Hadrian’s Wall. This Romano-British settlement had many uses through out the Iron Age and Roman Iron Age, giving us an intriguing insight into British history of this period. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction (British Roman History) 01:00 British history of Hill Forts 02:30 How Hill Forts were built 03:00 The History...
The Lost Secrets of a Roman Iron Age Settlement | Huckhoe, Northumberland
zhlédnutí 1,3KPřed 21 dnem
In this episode Alex takes a look at one of the most interesting known Roman Iron Age settlements: Huckhoe, Northumberland. Discussing the settlement’s unclear history, the historical significance of the settlement, how it likely helped bolster the Roman troops of Hadrian's Wall and how a lost artefact puts leaves the site’s history up for debate - Alex uncovers the secrets of this Roman Iron A...
How Anglo-Saxon History Is Still Evolving in 2024 | Yeavering, Northumberland
zhlédnutí 17KPřed měsícem
Even in 2024 Medieval history continues to evolve as technology advances and new archaeological discoveries are made on existing sites of historical significance. In this episode we take a look at some new developments at Yeavering, Northumberland and how they have impacted our understanding of Anglo Saxon history and our understanding of British Medieval history and in general. Chapters: 00:00...
Roman Villas in Northen England:: Dalton on Tees
zhlédnutí 413Před měsícem
I have a special connection to the Dalton on Tees villa as its not far away from where my Grandparents lived, I remember visiting nearby and so when I discovered there was a villa there I really wanted to learn more about this villa and what it was like! Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Introduction and Outro V...
Roman Villas in Northen England: Ingleby Barwick
zhlédnutí 299Před 2 měsíci
The Ingleby Barwick villa was discovered during the construction of a housing estate and helps us to understand the development of villas in Northern England - and their continued use into the early medieval period. Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Introduction and Outro Video made by Lauren Kirkwood: www.linke...
Roman Villas in Northen England: Holme House
zhlédnutí 202Před 2 měsíci
The Romans built villas across their empire but in the North of England we have several fascinating villas which were built near the frontier, lets look at the Holm house villa, built near the Roman fort at Peircebridge. Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Introduction and Outro Video made by Lauren Kirkwood: www....
Roman Settlements: East Park Durham
zhlédnutí 108Před 2 měsíci
At East Park Durham a Roman settlement was excavated which seems to be a part of the wider supply lines for Hadrian's Wall. Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Introduction and Outro Video made by Lauren Kirkwood: www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-kirkwood-9b8750191 Many thanks to Geza Frank and Event Horizon for permiss...
Sunken Featured Buildings: The Workshops of the Anglo Saxons
zhlédnutí 550Před 3 měsíci
In this episode I am going back to sunken featured buildings, a topic I covered a few years ago. Thankfully though I have learnt a lot since then and wanted to take the time to talk to you about these interesting buildings that are a key feature of Anglo-Saxon settlements. Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Intro...
The Use Of Barrows And Henges By The Anglo Saxons
zhlédnutí 563Před 3 měsíci
Reusing monuments is a trait shared by all cultures, and the Anglo-Saxon are no exceptions. for reasons unknown to us, they were drawn to Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments. let's have a look at this in today's episode! Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Introduction and Outro Video made by Lauren Kirkwood: www.l...
Hands On: Roman Comb
zhlédnutí 138Před 3 měsíci
I love small historical replicas. They help me to think about how people used things in the past! here is a replica Roman Comb that I bought at Roman Vindolanda. let's have a look at it today! Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Introduction and Outro Video made by Lauren Kirkwood: www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-kirkw...
Anglo-Saxon Priestess Burial Ground: Streethouse
zhlédnutí 226Před 3 měsíci
The Street house burial ground is an amazing early medieval burial ground from the late 7th century. like many early medieval burial grounds, it's a bit weird which makes it all the more interesting to look at! In this episode I will be looking at what makes it so interesting! Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk I...
Hands on: The Feltwell Spatha
zhlédnutí 199Před 4 měsíci
In this episode, I show off my replica of the Feltwell Spatha, made by the fantastically skilled Karl Heinz! I hope you enjoy. The original Paper: eaareports.org.uk/publication/report31/ Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Introduction and Outro Video made by Lauren Kirkwood: www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-kirkwood-9b...
Pictish DNA - What can it tell us?
zhlédnutí 2,1KPřed 4 měsíci
Today I will be looking at the aDNA study of 'Pictish' aDNA by Morez et al 2023. Lets have a look at their findings and what this means for our understanding of the early medieval people of Scotland. Buy me a coffee?: ko-fi.com/alexilesuk My Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlexIlesUK Iles Tours Website: www.ilestours.co.uk Introduction and Outro Video made by Lauren Kirkwood: www.linkedin.com/in/laure...
Viking and Scandinavian aDNA
zhlédnutí 1,1KPřed 4 měsíci
Viking and Scandinavian aDNA
Anglo Saxon DNA
zhlédnutí 5KPřed 4 měsíci
Anglo Saxon DNA
I'm Not Dead!
zhlédnutí 201Před 4 měsíci
I'm Not Dead!
Saintly Princess Hilda
zhlédnutí 320Před rokem
Saintly Princess Hilda
Acha of Deira - Mother of Kings
zhlédnutí 444Před rokem
Acha of Deira - Mother of Kings
Roman Gold in Barbarian Hands!
zhlédnutí 264Před rokem
Roman Gold in Barbarian Hands!
Armed and Dead! Weapons Burial in Anglo Saxon England
zhlédnutí 396Před rokem
Armed and Dead! Weapons Burial in Anglo Saxon England
What was a Anglo-Saxon House like?
zhlédnutí 1,7KPřed rokem
What was a Anglo-Saxon House like?
What are Bed Burials - Princesses or Holy Women?
zhlédnutí 409Před rokem
What are Bed Burials - Princesses or Holy Women?
The Great Barbarian Conspiracy
zhlédnutí 1,3KPřed rokem
The Great Barbarian Conspiracy
Did the Anglo-Saxons Exist?
zhlédnutí 3,8KPřed rokem
Did the Anglo-Saxons Exist?
Newcastle Castle Episode Nine: The Black Gate 360*
zhlédnutí 100Před rokem
Newcastle Castle Episode Nine: The Black Gate 360*
Newcastle Castle Episode Five: The Lower Hall 360*
zhlédnutí 76Před rokem
Newcastle Castle Episode Five: The Lower Hall 360*
Newcastle Castle Episode Two Before the Castle pt 2
zhlédnutí 91Před rokem
Newcastle Castle Episode Two Before the Castle pt 2
Newcastle Castle Episode Two Before the Castle pt 1
zhlédnutí 56Před rokem
Newcastle Castle Episode Two Before the Castle pt 1

Komentáře

  • @Wicknews8100
    @Wicknews8100 Před 4 hodinami

    Splendid work, there's a 1962 multicoloured topographic map of Ireland, it depicts a Boar King in a purple robe holding the Holy Grail, it's a gold skull inscribed OMRY the blood that flows into it is inscribed JAWKOAM, just what I noticed anyway 🐗👑 It's a Megalithic Biblical account landscape, Giants? Boars? Pig Kings? Dna? I also collect ancient quartz crystals in Ontario Canada. They have ancient engravings as well, very underrated subject, "rockart" on Quartz crystals, do you believe the Quartz can contain Dna 🧬? Match the engravings with the contents of the crystals? Thanks for your channel

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 hodinami

      Thank you, I wouldn't put too much weight behind that kind of map personally

    • @Wicknews8100
      @Wicknews8100 Před 2 hodinami

      @@AlexIlesUK I thought the same until I started looking around, the United States upside down on topographic is a snarling Dog surrounded by ancient Hebrew men, the great lakes are the Dogs mouth. Have a look and get back to me, thanks 🙏

  • @gerardmichaelburnsjr.
    @gerardmichaelburnsjr. Před 5 hodinami

    This is a major fault in commercial DNA tests. A friend of mine with the stereotypical Irish surname, and who could pass for a leprechaun, was told in a DNA test that he was overwhelmingly "English". So I asked question what kind of English? Anglo-Saxon (German), pre-invasion Briton, borgeous whatever the hodgepodge in England today is? Sadly, my friend had no idea what I meant. I tend to think some DNA testing is done if it's a political aim of increasing certain identities. I haven't had DNA testing, but nearly everyone I have heard of is supposedly part Finnish. I think that is unlikely and more likely goes back to some last common ancestor.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 hodinami

      Yes, it's a reason I don't engage with Haplogroups on this channel, people turn them into identities instead of actually having a personality!

  • @standingbear998
    @standingbear998 Před 6 hodinami

    first of all so called ancient dna is just made up, dna does not last that long. it is all based on assumptions, that everything has always been constant and the same as now. that is not science but fiction. whether a person believes in creation or evolution it leaves us all with the same ancestors. if you just count back 2 parents, 4 grand, 8 great, 16 great great and so on in less than a thousand years you have more ancestors than there were people on earth?

  • @g4joe
    @g4joe Před 7 hodinami

    Ok.... But what about our Neanderthal DNA in Wigan ??? Alice Roberts also has Neanderthal DNA. 😄 My Dad was Breton. 👍

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 7 hodinami

      I just thought the southerners looked funny. Now I understand why... ;)

    • @g4joe
      @g4joe Před 6 hodinami

      @@AlexIlesUK Lisa Nandy local MP👎 Enough said.😄

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 6 hodinami

      I can't comment as I try to stay out of modern politics and don't know who she is.

    • @g4joe
      @g4joe Před 6 hodinami

      @@AlexIlesUK Its no lose to you. Relax👍

  • @kubhlaikhan2015
    @kubhlaikhan2015 Před 7 hodinami

    England has been opposite Holland and Germany for a very long time, not just during the Roman period. Intermarriage and migration must have been constant. Of course under Rome, Britain and western Europe were a single province which would have accelerated freedom of movement. This is more than enough to account for DNA similarities with eastern England and for the germination and importation of new (pidgin) languages when Rome's importance declined. When can we drop the phoney stories about "anglosaxon" and "viking" invasions?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 7 hodinami

      Nope, not phoney at all. Where did you get that idea from??

  • @BigMrFirebird
    @BigMrFirebird Před 8 hodinami

    There was no ambush at the Battle of the River Idle. Both armies could clearly see each other because it was fought on the Roman road which acted as a causeway, spanning the sparse tidal flood plain that slowly ascends from the east bank of the river. Sources Bede, J. Storr (citing archaeological reports of the area).

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 6 hodinami

      I'll look at those. Thank you

  • @kubhlaikhan2015
    @kubhlaikhan2015 Před 8 hodinami

    The problem Alex is that people will cling to their myths and fictions to the death, even though those myths and fictions were invented to control and exploit them. Truth seekers are a minority in this world.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 8 hodinami

      While I would not define myself as a truth seaker, I would view it more that we are all trying to learn a little bit more about people and the whole human story by researching and learnining. I am not a singular source of knowledge and sometimes I get things wrong or upset people without meaning to (have a look at the comments on some of my videos!) gald you are enjoying the content though!

  • @robertvermaat2124
    @robertvermaat2124 Před 10 hodinami

    Very interesting!!

  • @stephenelberfeld8175
    @stephenelberfeld8175 Před 14 hodinami

    I guess that more samples need to be collected in Brittany covering DNA from Roman times, Britons migration period from Wales/Cornwall, almost anything pre-Eighteenth Century with a name attatched to it where permission can be had. You know there is a considerable difference between Quebec French and Acadian (Cajun) French because of they originated from different populations in France and Acadia had a constant influx of seamen from all points. Quebec has it's dit-names, as low ranking officers from noble families were in a better position financially to start a family than adventurers and trappers. At first farming and gardening were almost non-existent. So fishing, pigs, sheep, cattle, horses and chickens were essentials to survive while clearing rocky, forested bottomland.

  • @GriffinParke
    @GriffinParke Před 14 hodinami

    While you can argue there's no proof of direct descent, you're going to have difficulty convincing someone that they aren't related to a population if they have a genetic distance of <0.1. And for example, how are you going to convince a man who is R-L21+ that he has no connection to the British Bell Beakers, when they are virtuality 100% R-L21. Never gonna happen.

  • @louvendran7273
    @louvendran7273 Před 18 hodinami

    14:30. Did you consider the Barbary Pirates raiding the west coast of France, England & south Ireland to capture slaves for the Arab/Ottoman slave trade until the 19th century when the British Navy reached world class status?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 17 hodinami

      I'm not entirely sure what that changes as the North African aDNA was from the 5th century.

  • @psilocyberspaceman
    @psilocyberspaceman Před 22 hodinami

    The same goes for sharing genes with Neanderthals.

  • @psilocyberspaceman
    @psilocyberspaceman Před 22 hodinami

    I like your analysis and how detailed you are.

  • @petehoover6616
    @petehoover6616 Před 22 hodinami

    Frank Boaz noticed that Round headed brachycephalic people (Hungarians) who emigrated to the New World had children who were long headed dolichocephaic people. Same thing is noted among Thoroughbred racehorses: when imported to other nations they change even though all their ancestors are Thoroughbreds. Compare the English Thoroughbred, the Australian Brumby and the American Quarter horse. All are nearly pure Thoroughbreds yet all are different.

    • @thesjkexperience
      @thesjkexperience Před 18 hodinami

      Did they offer a hypothesis? I’ve always said a Place will change you, but that’s more than I expected!

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 17 hodinami

      I'd not use that as the basis for a hypothesis. Thankfully science has moved on a little bit since Boaz.

    • @petehoover6616
      @petehoover6616 Před 17 hodinami

      @@AlexIlesUK I'm often disappointed by archaeologists who turn out to be racist. What I think happened was that racist university professors won't give a doctorate to someone who's not racist like themselves. The dolochoceohalic/brachycephalic one has always bothered me because it's talked about so often as a racial difference when there might be environmental factors that influence it. I've noticed a difference like that myself. If you lay a palm on each side of someone's arse and they walk away and you look at your hands with a European or Middle Easterner your palms will be parallel but with an American your palms will be angled out a bit. And I've noticed that parallel sided European people who have children in America have children with tapered backsides. I think it has something to do with the width of the glute vs the depth of the muscle. It's a pretty easy difference to notice if you're around people from both continents but otherwise you wouldn't think of it. I'm pretty sure the difference is environmental rather than hereditary but what causes it is a mystery. I don't really know how to talk about it without offending someone as the difference crosses genders and one just should not discuss this with ladies, especially when you're holding them. The round head/long head doesn't show much until you put a cowboy hat on an Asian, where it really looks odd. Been there. Done that. Try explaining Bosnians: they are round headed but oddly their necks are wider than their skulls so they appear pinheaded. Bosnians look really odd. Since Bosnians are a mix of a whole bunch of different ethnic origins how did they get to where a roomful of them looks like a roomful of traffic cones? It's worse when they all wear pointed hats. I suspect an environmental factor. (The hats are too tight?)

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 16 hodinami

      Sorry would you explain by the Archeologists who are racist? As I understand it craniology can show relationships between family members in the same cemetery, but I've no heard it being used in other studies otherwise, I've got a paper to read on it though.

    • @petehoover6616
      @petehoover6616 Před 16 hodinami

      @@thesjkexperience Horse breeders from certain countries (Argentina) must continually import Thoroughbred breeding stock from England or their herd will degenerate.

  • @jimmobley533
    @jimmobley533 Před dnem

    Good stuff. Makes you think.

  • @GaryNoone-jz3mq
    @GaryNoone-jz3mq Před dnem

    Another amateur making out that he actually knows something.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 17 hodinami

      Thank you Gary, can I ask why you think that?

  • @joeelliott2157
    @joeelliott2157 Před dnem

    Question: You say around 7:50 that France is divided into three parts (like Julius Caesar said (just joking). * Northeastern France: DNA largely from Britain * Central France: DNA from Germany and Scandinavia * Southwest France: DNA from Spain Do you mean: * Northwestern France: DNA largely from Britain * Northeastern France: DNA from Germany and Scandinavia * Southwest-Southern France: DNA from Spain (Mediterranean) This would make more sense to me. Germany DNA ending up close to Germany.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      I believe it was a decision on the part of the research team. I don't know if they were or not inspired by Caesar!

  • @michaelmerrigan3086

    Alex, you rightly point out that nomenclature is important and, at the same time, very problematic. However, your constant use of the anachronistic geopolitical term "British Isles" to include the islands of Britain and Ireland only compounds the problem. Maybe it would be best to leave aside terms emanating from Tudor political and imperial aspirations and propaganda, in favour of the modern "Britain and Ireland" or the "UK and Ireland" or, with context, "the archipelago" or "these islands"? Enjoy your videos - very informative.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      Hi Michael, you are right, the term has political conitations. I will have a good think about the various terms I can use in future videos and will try to be more accurate. I expect everyone has a slightly diffrent view on wich is the correct term depending on which part of Britian and Ireland/ United Kingdom/ British Isles they come from, and I know people who would agree and vehemently disagree with you on this point. I do try wherever posible and appreciate the feedback

    • @michaelmerrigan3086
      @michaelmerrigan3086 Před 12 hodinami

      @@AlexIlesUK Go raibh maith agat Alex (Thank You) and indeed, I appreciate your point in the penultimate sentence above. However, surely in the furtherance of good neighbourliness, one would understand that using a possessive term that implies ownership of one's neighbour's home and garden might be considered offensive? An irrationally patriotic attachment to the term has much to do with a nostalgia for a long gone imperial greatness and/or, more probably, evidence of a fanciful sense of irredentism. Either way, mutual respect should be the order of the day and therefore, anachronistic geopolitical terms should be avoided, especially, in public history videos as such may lead to misuse by factions, particularly, on the far right. Thanks again Alex.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 11 hodinami

      @@michaelmerrigan3086 Thank you for the time you have taken to write this.

    • @michaelmerrigan3086
      @michaelmerrigan3086 Před 9 hodinami

      @@AlexIlesUK Likewise!

  • @laurentdavid2147
    @laurentdavid2147 Před dnem

    Point is there are historic evidences about political troubles / civil wars in Ireland between AD #800 and #1500, and about a continuous influx of Irish refugee in Britanny. Political debate between Irish people was violent in those days, and for a long time, Irishmen who lost those debates often took refuge in Britanny to avoid punishment by fellow Irishmen. I guess the number of people who migrated for that reason could have been quite significant over time. DNA studies sometimes show dubious results, but, here it looks rather consistent with classic historical knowledge.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      Thank you for that, these are little bits of knowledge that really makes the difference!

    • @kubhlaikhan2015
      @kubhlaikhan2015 Před 8 hodinami

      I'm sure that's true, but the likelihood is that migration and intermarriage between Ireland, Britain and the near continent have been going on for thousands of years, and in all directions. Trying to construct "national identities" out of that stew is a political rather than a scientific activity.

    • @laurentdavid2147
      @laurentdavid2147 Před 5 hodinami

      @@kubhlaikhan2015 I don't think so. Most European "modern" states before mid XIXth century were opposed to population movements, and, at least in France, they were rather successful at preventing that. They were not opposed to ruling-class' intermarriages with inhabitants of other region, or even sometimes with foreigners, but but those intermarriage concerned few people and had no real consequences on the population. Significant European population movements between #800 and #1850 are rare, especially in France. Brittany played a special part in that story, because it was much less controlled by French central authorities, because it allied with the UK during the 100 years war and because, until the XVIth century, Brittons had a tradition of enrolling as mercenaries in the British army or navy. It is well known that during the Kalmar Wars, many Norwegian economic refugee settled in Brittany, while it was much more difficult for them to settle in Normandy, which was much more controlled by French central authorities. I guess that you had more population movements in London, for instance, because British governments had no special prevention against foreign seamen, but french governments had such prevention, at least until mid XIXth. cent.

    • @kubhlaikhan2015
      @kubhlaikhan2015 Před 2 hodinami

      @@laurentdavid2147 I think you underestimate population movement between France and Britain in the medieval period, given the complex political interactions and the strong evidence for French being spoken widely in southern Britain before the 11th century (which is why half the vocabulary of Middle English is French). However that wasn't my point - I'm saying the long proximity of the British Isles with the near continent is all that is needed for crossovers of DNA, language, ideas and fashions to occur. The volume of travel or migration doesn't need to be large given a long period of time. It doesn't matter if only lords travelled either (although I'm sure they didn't row their own boats). Migrations and intermarriage between the inhabitants of Ireland, Britain and France have been going on for at least ten thousand years, if not longer and consequently trying to distinguish them genetically is splitting hairs at best and believing you can identify specific mass migrations or invasions is dubious without strong archaelogical or documentary support. Perhaps an arrival of Irish in Brittany is sufficiently documented I don't know but many bolder claims - like "the anglosaxon invasion of Britain" - certainly aren't. Which begs the question - where do these stories come from? why do people want to believe in them - often passionately (even murderously)? I think the answer is very sad - that they are often the figleaf for political tyranny and racism.

    • @laurentdavid2147
      @laurentdavid2147 Před hodinou

      @@kubhlaikhan2015 I understand that before mid XIXth century, peasant population typically stayed where they were born and never traveled more than 20km from this place during their whole life. I understand that in France, you had mass migration at the end of the Roman-Empire, when Germanic tribes moved west, and as I understand in the 8th century when a significant number of Englishmen moved to Brittany to flee Danish invaders. Apart from that, modern DNA studies seem to show that "Viking invasion" of Normandy resulted in local population changes of less than 5%, bar two very small parts of Normandy where population change was about 40%. Concerning Brittany, I understand that this region was mainly rural, with very limited interest in maritime economy until the en of the XVth century (very little fishing...), and that everything had changed at the beginning of the XVIIth century, where you can see seafaring brittons and serious fishing activities. In between you had the Kalmar Wars in Scandinavia, who constrained many Norwegians to exile, and they very often settled in Brittany where they brought their technical culture, but were often exploited by local feudal landowners. For instance you have a port in Brittany, name is Douarnenez, that nearly didn't exist in 1500, that was quite large in 1600, and whose industry between 1600 and 1950 was sardine fishing using cod's eggs imported from Norway as bait. Douarnenez maritime population is generally considered as different from local peasant population, with a long tradition of socially strained relations between local peasants and local seamen. It seems extremely likely that Douarnenez benefited from a large influx of Norwegian migrants during the Kalmar Wars, that those migrants were in a way "exploited" by local authorities, and that, in return, they had a tradition of not treating well impoverished peasant's sons who were economically compelled to work as unqualified seamen on Douarnenez's fishing boats. But, this kind of idea has been considered as "politically incorrect" for a long time, and you will not find it in any book. Concerning marriages between Frenchmen and Englishmen before 1066, I guess that it did exist in maritime communities, but not in rural communities that had no interest in seafaring, and that in the XIth century, maritime communities were very different from rural communities and were much less numerous, at least in France and in the UK. as bait

  • @st6217
    @st6217 Před dnem

    A thought. Surely rural populations remained relatively static till WW1, whilst urban populations mixed since the industrial revolution, and are thus less indicative of eay movement?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      I'd have thought that due to new methods of agriculture in the 19th century the rural populations would have seen substantial migration as well, but I need to do more research for certain!!

    • @allangibson8494
      @allangibson8494 Před 19 hodinami

      @@AlexIlesUKRural populations tended to decline with migration to cities not move between local rural areas outside of the colonial migration to the Americas, Africa and Australia.

  • @st6217
    @st6217 Před dnem

    Re the Nth African connection. 11th C. French texts mention 'Muslims who live amongst us'. These were the remnant of the Moorish army who did not all go home after their defeat at Poitiers. French geneticists have long been aware of this.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      That's really interesting but it was 5th century human remains that they mentioned with the N. African aDNA

  • @mattpotter8725
    @mattpotter8725 Před dnem

    I totally agree with all your skepticism and criticism of basically transposing ancient DNA onto modern day populations and I'm the same. Having taken a DNA test for genealogical purposes to try and build back my family tree it astounds me how so many people use these to misinterpret their ancestry, part of which i put down to his these tests have been advertised. What i would say is that the grandparent criteria, whilst i agree won't mean every person is an ideal candidate with my analysis of my test results, and having done this for close relatives as well, is that DNA analysis is a lot more statistical then you would think, or at least a lot of people think, and looking at probabilities and finding what is most likely is what is going on a lot of the time here but this is hard to explain to the non mathematical, non scientific population, who like to see these broad conclusions when what is going on is a lot more nuanced. I don't think I've watched any of your videos before and found it odd that you said you didn't want to be the "DNA guy" since you didn't really talk a huge amount about the history of Brittany as a whole but mentioned some very valid points about early bronze age migrations, later migrations, and some other very valid points about viking DNA. I'm sure the writers of this paper are right that rivers play a large part in defining population groups, maybe more in terms of creating group identity, friendly relations, and inter breeding, but history will as well, and it comes as no surprise to me that Irish and Cornish DNA is shared with the DNA of people living in Brittany today, after all until not too long ago the sea was the quickest and easiest way to travel large distances and all these places were of Celtic origin and will have traded with each other, the rulers will have formed alliances by intermarrying their children, which will have eventually fed into the gene pool of the area over thousands of years, as well as other peoples migrating into the area over the past few centuries. So great video, but i think more history to put this study into context, a better description of the distinct areas deliminated by the study, but other than that great job, very informative.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      I'm very glad you enjoyed it, I'll take the points about detail and look to try to work that in more in the future!

  • @ScottOsborne
    @ScottOsborne Před dnem

    I had a little chuckle when you buried your head in your hands after mentioning “Viking DNA”.

  • @brennanmacdowell284

    DNA paper from 2003 is worthless. In fact just about anything on population genetics earlier than 2015 is worthless - modern or ancient. Big fan of the channel! Keep up the good work!

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      I made a mistake - its 2023! doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.03.478491 Sorry about that!

  • @MadeleineTakam
    @MadeleineTakam Před dnem

    If you thought that paper was controversial. Try… The deepest-rooting clade of the Y phylogeny haplogroup A1 Chromosome within indigenous British males in Yorkshire.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      Now that looks facinating, thank you for sharing that with me and I will try to read that paper soon.

    • @MadeleineTakam
      @MadeleineTakam Před dnem

      @@AlexIlesUK European Journal of Human Genetics… 24 January 2007

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      @@MadeleineTakam I've found it and printed it off - it is in my reading pile!!! Also found papers which cite it too - a paper on Craniology! Thank you again for brining it to my attention!

  • @kinemapup
    @kinemapup Před dnem

    has anyone researched the effect of vit k2 being consumed as readily available staple, that possibly induced the pontic population growth and migration?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      I'm sure people have done, but it would be a prehistoric topic and one I sadly don't know anything about

    • @kinemapup
      @kinemapup Před dnem

      i don't think anyone has... so I'm officially bagging the theory here :-) the question now, what happens when you remove vit-k2 from the general population?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      @@kinemapup people get broken bones more easily?

    • @kinemapup
      @kinemapup Před dnem

      @@AlexIlesUK and so much more possibly. as an experiment, to experience this population transition period, the dog and I are taking vit d3+k2 supplements, at 14 1/2 years old, he's already pushing the odds

  • @wekapeka3493
    @wekapeka3493 Před dnem

    I am who I am.

  • @sinan2.71
    @sinan2.71 Před dnem

    So even if you can trace one or more ancestors back to the same place, they were marrying and having children with people from other places?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      Interesting proposition, it depends on how big your tracing goes? Do you know the grandparents and great grandparents of all your ancestors? Can you be certain that all the ancestors came from the same place and same genetic group? There's slight risks with that particular hypothesis.

  • @molecatcher3383
    @molecatcher3383 Před dnem

    The Scots "conquering" the Picts is the "established" view, but it maybe that this belief came from earlier historians who wanted to validate the Scots claim to rule. However among historians today it is an area of uncertainty as to the exact mechanism of how the Picts and Scots came together and adopted the Gaelic language.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      I'm sure it was not just conquest, as it was in the Anglo-Saxon migrations into the british isles, but we do have sources that show the Scots winning battles over the Picts, it does seem like a forceful conquest by Kenneth MacAlpin - I mean, his monica is 'An Ferbasach' the Conqueror

    • @molecatcher3383
      @molecatcher3383 Před dnem

      @@AlexIlesUKBased upon land area and quality of farmland the Picts must have had a much bigger population than the Scots. Also it is unlikely that the Scots had a big advantage in military technology, tactics or numbers. As such the Pictish people may have been accepting of the leadership which might point towards it being a peaceful transition, or even business as usual, i e. the accepted legitimate monarchy.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      A smaller force can conquer a larger one given the right circumstances. Alongside this there is evidence to sugest the picts were under pressure from Scandinavian 'Vikings' which agian would make it easier for an enemy force opening another front against them.

    • @molecatcher3383
      @molecatcher3383 Před dnem

      @@AlexIlesUK The Pictish and Scots elites had been intermarrying for generations and some even think that MacAlpine was more Pict than Scot. You could read up more from modern historians.

  • @greggoodson9082
    @greggoodson9082 Před 2 dny

    Thanks again Alex. Another great presentation, and a fair and even handed critique

  • @davidsoulsby1102
    @davidsoulsby1102 Před 2 dny

    Funny but you have just explained my thoughts on DNA and Ethnicity, which i have had for a few yew years, and you explained it in a way I couldn't. The whole Idea of Irish being Celts and different from the English etc.... all the way through and across Europe. The relationship of DNA and cultural groupings is very weak. We, even today will call someone Scottish if they mostly embrace the culture, also how many Sikhs are proud to fly the Union Flag.... That has got to have been the case for as long as history. Thanks

  • @matthewgilmore4307
    @matthewgilmore4307 Před 2 dny

    what's with all the inverted commas "Anglo-Saxon" nonsense? Who's trying to delegitimise that term?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      Thats complex, the issue is best summed up in the Anglo-Saxon DNA episode. I have spent a lot of time writing out answers to that question and if you read the comments to that video you'll see!

  • @matthewgilmore4307
    @matthewgilmore4307 Před 2 dny

    how fictional are the king lists?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      Would you remind me which I was refering too? Most early medeival ones can be trusted, but there is one of King Alfred which traces his ancestors to Jesus, Wodan and Adam, so some should be taken with a pinch of salt!

  • @matthewgilmore4307
    @matthewgilmore4307 Před 2 dny

    More complicated than people like to "de-Pict"? 😀

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      I wish that would have been an intentional thought while filming!

  • @matthewgilmore4307
    @matthewgilmore4307 Před 2 dny

    I know you don't want to be the "DNA guy" but would love to hear more about Ulster/Western Scotland DNA

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      I will put it on my list of things to do! I do have another DNA episode coming up that I filmed a couple of days ago, but I am always looking for more information to be inspired by!

  • @Texasmade74
    @Texasmade74 Před 2 dny

    Blatantly denying peer reviewed dna science isn’t a good look at all Alex.There was an even more recent set of dna studies that have come out within the last 5 years that proved Celtic Britons and Anglo-Saxons were absolutely related to the modern-day ethnic populations of Britain. The nonsense you may spout tries to make it look like every modern-day person has no ancestors going back 500,900,or even 1500 years to the point you sound like we just popped out of thin air

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      You need to go and watch my Anglo-Saxon aDNA episode, I'm saying the early DNA studies were not great. Gertzinger et al. 2022 Is fantastic.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      czcams.com/video/xTwvEzOLnq8/video.html

    • @Texasmade74
      @Texasmade74 Před 2 dny

      @@AlexIlesUK have you read the one from the Max Planck institute

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      @Texasmade74 could you tell me the name of the paper?

  • @jukeboxgeneral7105
    @jukeboxgeneral7105 Před 2 dny

    I'm from Dundee. As far as I believe Dundee was in Pictland. I read a theory a few ayers back (sorry can't remember where I seen it), where they believed the Picts were very similar to the Barbarian tribes in what is now Germany and Switzerland.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      I'll need to have a look into that but I don't think any data suggests a genetic connection, possibly similarities in their organisation and social structures?

    • @jukeboxgeneral7105
      @jukeboxgeneral7105 Před 2 dny

      It was more to do with their fighting techniques. War paint, separating their enemies and having them fight gorilla warfare instead of on a battlefield. In between Dundee and Perth, along the banks of the River Tay, the Romans had created rafts to bring soldiers, supplies, cattle and armour across the river. The Picts in the area attacked them and run into the wooded areas. The Romans setup a defensive position expecting a second wave, it never came. Then when the Romans dropped their guard, the next wave of attacks. The Picts knew the land, they knew the wooded areas, the also knew that the Romans would defeat them on a battlefield, so stacked the odds in their favour. The Barbarian tribes did this also. I believe that they made some kind of link with their battle tactics. Unfortunately the Pictish language looks to have been lost, however I believe that Dundonian (Dundee dialect) and Dorich (dialect in Aberdeenshire) have some fusions of old Pict and Gaelic with Scots.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      That makes sense. Those tactics are most effective when fighting a large industrial empire or foe.

    • @jukeboxgeneral7105
      @jukeboxgeneral7105 Před 2 dny

      @AlexIlesUK would love to see you and Bruce Fummey do a collaboration on Scottish history. It would be fun, factual and interesting.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      @jukeboxgeneral7105 we've spoken in the past but I think we have different interests, he's amazing and it would be great but I don't know if it'll ever happen.

  • @waynemcauliffe-fv5yf

  • @danielferguson3784
    @danielferguson3784 Před 2 dny

    Why limit these movements of peopled to the migration period of the post Roman era? Surely people moved, in all sorts of directions, not only east to west, throughout time, as much before the Roman period, & during it, as well as some very long after. 'Irish' DNA in modern Brittany could be Iron Age people or others moving from the continent into Ireland just as easily. The peoples of Europe are all from the same original post glacial populations, mixed, separated, & mixed again, so that their DNA is very close, so the direction of flow has changed time & again, making it near impossible to identify individuals with any known 'ethnic' groups. But the threefold division of France does recall Caesar's Gaul. This would put the 'celts' in the coastal west, the Gauls, Belgic, part German, in the central regions, & the more closely German in the eastern parts. Yes, Brittany newly coined after substantial numbers from Britain migrated to the region, where the people were closely related to them already.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      Fair points!

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      I think they don't envision a migration into Ireland as there's no material culture that backs up that potential theory.

    • @danielferguson3784
      @danielferguson3784 Před 2 dny

      @@AlexIlesUK But the Irish people didn't just pop up out of the ground, at least some of them must have crossed the seas from Britain or France or Spain or elsewhere, & this could happen repeatedly at any time. What about Lanullae, & Beakers, tombs etc?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      @@danielferguson3784 I am sorry I understand your point now, The majority of their aDNA comes from the Bronze Age migration into Ireland rather than later migrations

  • @italianbirdvideos6190

    I really like your topics and your approach, but might you consider not saying "stuff like that" every other sentence? It cheapens your dialog and sounds amateurish. You deserve better.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      Thank you, I do appreciate that feedback. Something to work on, I try to take them in one take and it's often when I'm thinking that come out. I'll have a talk with the editors to see what I can do!

    • @italianbirdvideos6190
      @italianbirdvideos6190 Před dnem

      @@AlexIlesUK I'm sure I am being too critical. It came from a place of respect for what you do. Thank you kindly for listening. Fascinating channel.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před dnem

      @italianbirdvideos6190 it's useful feedback and I know I can improve and want to I've recorded four more episodes already so you may not notice a difference for a while, but I'll make an effort to try not to do that, the only thing I can say is that I have a lot going on every recording season. It's not an excuse, but I'm thinking about my voice, position in the shot and I'm reading my notes and finding a way to convey it engagingly and accurately. Unfortunately I'm time poor and this is only a part of my job so I need to get it right on my filming days. Today I'm going to try and film more so I'll see what I can do! Also my editors want me to move to hour long content - when you see the hour long episode in about three to four weeks, you'll see how exhausted I look!! :)

  • @kudjoeadkins-battle2502

    This was awesome.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      Thank you!! I've got another one on European Early Medeval aDNA coming up!

  • @alananimus9145
    @alananimus9145 Před 2 dny

    This popped up in my feed and i saw it and rolled my eyes. I thought this was going to be yet another crank video from yet another crank. Instead it was great.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      I'm so glad! I sometimes feel like I'm yelling into the abyss with these but it means a lot when people comment afterwards that you've enjoyed it! I've got a series on aDNA/DNA if you're interested.

  • @kudjoeadkins-battle2502

    Ancient DNA is not necessarily corespondent with modern classifications of people. Very interesting.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      I'm so glad you got that as a takeaway from the episode, so often people don't understand that.

  • @matthewgilmore4307
    @matthewgilmore4307 Před 2 dny

    very interesting

  • @John-qs2xr
    @John-qs2xr Před 2 dny

    Wallas meant Roman not foreigner hence Walloons are latin speakers, walnut-roman nut, Wallachia etc.

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 2 dny

      I've read that paper and while it's convincing I am not entirely convinced! I need to do more research on that area

  • @annwitt4980
    @annwitt4980 Před 3 dny

    I totally agree with Prydwen!

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 3 dny

      Have you looked at my reply as well?

  • @tyche3222
    @tyche3222 Před 4 dny

    I'm fascinated by the alternative theories! I've never heard of them before, but they certainly make a kind of sense given what I know of the status of germans in the rest of the roman empire, invited to settle and be a component of the military, can you point me to sources about the theories?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 4 dny

      This came through a combination of all the reading that I've done, there's not one single paper or book I could point you to, but I'll think of some papers later I could point you too.

  • @alanshearer3682
    @alanshearer3682 Před 4 dny

    Hey man I like your channel as a history buff. Lot of key information. You should have more views. Try to add some comedy fun stuff to engage more viewers

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 4 dny

      Thank you very much, I've got a gradual plan for how to grow it, I've had five hundred subscribers over the last month so depending on if you hit the right topic, growth can come very fast!!

  • @markaurelius61
    @markaurelius61 Před 4 dny

    One of the surprising things is the lack of celtic origin of place names in England. One assumption was that the AngloSaxons simply wiped out all memory of their predecessors, maybe through total annihilation of the populations. That seems unlikely, because even invaders tend to use local place names. What is more likely is that the east of Britain was already inhabited by germanic speaking peoples, and the more numerous germanic migrants after the fall of the Roman control of Britain, found the names familiar and carried them forward with minimal change. I don't know of any specific evidence of this, but the North Sea was clearly easy to cross before and during Roman occupation, so why not?

    • @AlexIlesUK
      @AlexIlesUK Před 4 dny

      I've tried to cover this topic in a number of series on the channel. Have a look at the Anglo-Saxons genetics one