Unveiling Germanic Migration: Early Medieval aDNA and Population Shifts in Western Europe

[@AlexIlesUK]

Hello all, I made a mistake when I was saying toponym, I learnt after the episode, the word I should have been using is I ethnonym - hope that helps.

[@casteretpollux]

The cat is out of the bag. This mutant terminology will in due course take over the world.

[@keithbriggs6698]

Merigovian doesn't sound right either - did you mean Merovingian?

[@AlexIlesUK]

Yes, but come to the channel for content, not pronunciation!

[@LSOP-]

You've really turned up the dial on quality and quantity. I hope you get the many many more views you deserve.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you. It's been a journey but I hope it really grows the channel

[@davidashley7717]

def one of the Alex Iles videos that needs a second watch, lot to think about - great episode!

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you! Really appreciate that!

[@candicevader]

So interesting. Also I really like the improved illustrations you have been using lately.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you. I'm working with a new editor and trying out a couple of new things. It seems to be working!

[@Clans_Dynasties]

I'm about to start my drive home while listening to another great video by Alex, Cant wait.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you! I really appreciate that!!

[@ForestArchaicCollective]

great stuff mate, fantastic research - big ups!

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you!

[@veepotter307]

Just found your channel and I’m hooked! Liked and subscribed.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you, that's really nice to hear

[@arnesundstrom302]

Tack!

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you so kindly!!!

[@kubhlaikhan2015]

I don't find anything surprising in the idea that genes flow along trade routes, and sudden changes in gene frequency reflect times when there were turbulent changes in those routes and the economies that depended on them. Surely what is often more mysterious are the exceptions - populations that remained distinct from their neighbours for long periods of time?

[@AlexIlesUK]

They are interesting. Can you give some examples?

[@joellarsson9486]

My haplogroup i I1 wich are belived to orginate in northern europe some 27 000 years ago. But it wasn't widespread at all most finding of stone age scandinavia were i2. However for some reason in the copper age the time of the yamnaya invasion I1 spread out and today I1 is the largest haplogroup in sweden together with R1. They must have been extremely influental almost eradicated the previous paternal lines.

[@kubhlaikhan2015]

@@joellarsson9486 There we go again - assuming that the spread of particular genes has to be the result of "invasion". Not every geneticist (eg. Leo Kljn) is convinced that the Yamnaya ever migrated into Europe at all - let alone "wiped out" previous inhabitants. The slower spread of adaptive genes is easier to understand. Remember, genetic researchers hardly ever examine the full genome and the amount of data available may be growing but it is still pitiful in proportion to the inumerable quantity of genes in existence, past and present. I suspect we underestimate mutation rates as well - even in supposedly stable groupings like haplotypes. I would look for climate events or plagues to explain most sudden or drastic genome changes.

[@kubhlaikhan2015]

@@AlexIlesUK Well take the Basques. Genetically they fall into two very different groups - west and east. I find that very odd given their proximity and common language. You might say the same for southern and northern Wales - which show some genetic discontinuity despite a common language and reasonably straightforward access between them. In Ireland there are some distinctive genes that are only typical of the extreme south west. Since their ancestors must have been there a very long time, why are we still finding such isolated characteristics? I'm suggesting that these exceptions to co-mingling should prompt us to search for specific historical events or conditions that account for them, whereas genes that are broadly similar over wide areas don't really tell us much at all.

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

have you ever covered the early Christian history of the English and Britons upon their converted history? I someday hope to cover that subject on my channel and I always felt that the Christian heritage of southern Britain is a important heritage worth covering.

[@AlexIlesUK]

It's something I'm interested about and would like to cover, it's tricky as there are so many valid topics but I need to also look at what works on KZbin, not that it would stop me from looking at it with the right method!

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@AlexIlesUK In the end, remember. Christ is the Risen God ✝

[@neilog747]

Is this the same Christianity that according to Bede, stopped the English practising the arts of war shortly before the vikings arrived?

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@neilog747 the same Christianity that set up the northern crusades, the reconquista and the levantine crusades. So if your insinuating that Christianity made England weak you have another thing coming.

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

18:58, I have access to a genetic study a few years old that proves Britons are not iron age Gauls but bronze age Gauls mixed with pre Celtic British bell-beaker Indo-Europeans. Reason we can't find Gaulish DNA is because that never happened. But we can find Celtic DNA from earlier bronze age strains that share common descendants with Gauls and Britons, while the two become distinct in the iron age, That and the Bronze age Britons mixed with the indigenous bell beakers I like to call the Albionese. The Albionese and the Britons mixed in the bronze age, becoming iron age Celts. That genetic study of bronze age migration into Britain proves a iron age migration is pointless. It already took place in the dying days of the bronze age.

[@AlexIlesUK]

The Bronze age population came across from what is now the Netherlands and we call them the Bell beakers, I think you know if you've been around a while I don't use Celtic, but I hope that makes sense. Best wishes, Alex

[@AlexIlesUK]

Also which study?

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@AlexIlesUK the Bell-beakers followed by bronze age Urnfield which I'm calling Celts. Because we often see Urnfield as the progenitors of the Hallstat/Gaulish biology.

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@AlexIlesUK Article - Humans Title - Bronze Age migration may have brought Celtic languages to Britain Analysis of ancient DNA reveals a mass migration of people from what is now France to England and Wales between 1000 and 875 BC By Carissa Wong 22 December 2021 There's also similar articles with differed articulations.

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@AlexIlesUKby the way I'm not tryna be rude or contrarian and I hope I don't come across as that.

[@angelabrown8458]

Just discovered you, excellent and fascinating video! Subscribed 😊

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you very much!!!

[@petehoover6616]

The Scandinavian migration out seems to hint at an increase in the Scandinavian food supply. I suspect boatbuilding allowed them to catch deep ocean fish.

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

@petehoover6616, Scandinavian boats from that period aren’t exactly designed to focus on deep water activity. Quite the opposite, they are designed to be well suited to the shallows and to navigate rivers.

[@joellarsson9486]

They seem to have traveled pretty far on them in the bronze age though. Some of the their copper came from Cyprus​@@brawndothethirstmutilator9848

[@oesypum]

The o in Kloster is the same as the o in most, Neu is the same as in noi in noise) Merowingian, the w is of course, a v, it is not Merogovian. So, aside from some slight butchering of names, it was a thoroughly interesting presentation on the numerous Völkerwanderungen of early Europe. I took my degree in Anthropology back in 1980. DNA had been mooted as a tool to assist us, but even then it was recognised as needing years before it could be reliably used, and it still has a way to go, however, it has made considerable strides. Thank you.

[@AlexIlesUK]

You're welcome, come to the channel for content not grammar and you won't be disappointed! :)

[@robertvermaat2124]

@Bavaria: Interesting how the dna amplifies the historical sources. After Rome lost control, we see the Bavarian 'provincial Romans' become a seperate group (legally) from the incoming (various) Germanic groups. After which ethnogenesis takes place - same as Bulgaria, Gaul and probably also Britain. In Austria the provincials literally seek higher altitude (mountain refuges) before 'coming down into the valley' by the later 6th-7th c.

[@AlexIlesUK]

That's fascinating and it's something that I need to research further - another thing on the growing list of topics!!

[@erichamilton3373]

Can they distinguish between Viking Age arrivals to Sweden and Denmark from Germany and German massive immigration during the High Middle Ages? Between 1200 and 1500 there was a huge influx of Northern Germans into Denmark and Sweden. The towns were even predominantly German, and medieval European town culture was brought by Germans. The Swedish and Danish languages were profoundly influenced by Low German.

[@AlexIlesUK]

So the way they've done it is analysing the aDNA of the human remains which have been dated to each period meaning that they can identify the differences in migrations

[@jcoker423]

Also into today's Poland and Czech

[@marieleger-st-jean8453]

Honest question: if people were flocking to Denmark during the Viking Age because of its growing wealth, have researchers started writing about the Viking Dream (as in the American Dream)? My only reference point is the Norwegian series Norsemen, and in it, the Roman slave who provides the point of view of the immigrant is understandably not very impressed by his new home given his material circonstances as a slave.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Well Norsemen is a comedy, so having a main character who's having a horrid time is a good basis for a laugh. There's some amazing books which show the trade going on in the Viking Age and the trade centers such as Ribe and Jelling and trade centres like York, Dublin and Dorestad which were connected to their trade networks. River Kings by Cat Jarman is a good starting point for new readers.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Watched it to the end. Good stuff. About culture-i`m Australian and my Irish surname means Son Of Olaf but my Dad`s DNA is pure Gaelic. Olaf is just a loan name

[@AlexIlesUK]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

@@davidsoulsby1102 Mate i think you get what i mean. Just saying my surname is Scandi but i`m not that`s all

[@mweskamppp]

That replacing population does not happen very often. It did not happen in germany. mostly the upper crusties got exchanged and they made the culture and language. With the franks in france it was the opposite way - they changed the upper crusties but adopted the local language and such. In germany you still have words with celtic origin and there is a dialect border that is about the same position as where the romans located a celtic - germanic border. The celts had some culture of building oppidae and long history of trading directly with mediterranean cultures, the germanic people did not.

[@AlexIlesUK]

There's good examples of Germanic trade with Rome along the Rhine and Danube frontierz

[@mweskamppp]

@@AlexIlesUK Oh, my timeline was a bit confused. When the romans entered the area they put the Danube and Rhine as borders and had contact with germans, no doubt. The Celts had contact with Greece many centuries earlier and also with Greek colonies like Massilia and later with the romans. Archeologists found lots of greek goods and even from further away in mesopotamia in the celtic oppidae.

[@uilleachan]

Firstly great vid. This new genetic insight from the north of Norway Ireland & Scotland makes practical sense. There's usually a bit of atmospheric blocking in spring favouring north easterly or easterly wind, handy for getting to Scotland & Ireland from northern Norway. In the rest of a typical year south westerlies & westerlies prevail, making for a fairly simple journey in the other direction. A good modern example was the football from a Shetland team kicked into the sea & lost, only for it to be washed up & found in northern Norway, Bergan or just to the north, from where it was returned to the Shetland team, replete with media fanfare. Also interesting re Iceland & Greenland genetics, moving away from the matrilineal slave analogy & academic gymnastics around Ketil Flatnose's lineage chattels etc. Not enough attention paid to the hiberno norse, despite a few monastic references to the foreign gael (gallagael) having renounced their baptism, ie freely existing & participating as part of, or under, heathen norse overlordship. Magnus Magnuson's reinterpretation of the Sagas more than hints at the active participation of gaels in much of the narrative, rather than being there solely through bonded servitude. Genetic insight is interesting in that regard too. When the norse lost/renounced/whatever, overlordship of, the kingdom of the Isles it was Gaelic speaking kin groups that had emerged to dominate this area during and after the norse era, down to today. If it were wipeout and resettlement by norse boys & gaelic speaking slave girls, whilst higher than the national average, where have all the norse boy Y chromosomes gone from the male line in these family groups?

[@AlexIlesUK]

Fantastic overview and summary of it, and I appreciate the insights you have. It's something I need to do some more reading and research!

[@uilleachan]

While you're doing more reading and research, keep this stuff coming. It's learnedly refreshing and very much appreciated!

[@AlexIlesUK]

@uilleachan I will - some of it is trial and error but I've got two series that hopefully will last until the end of September but I've already got ideas for more episodes to press on with. Looking at doing something about the English Scottish borders too not sure if it'll work but trying - KZbin is funny about what gets views and what doesn't!!

[@molecatcher3383]

Norse Y haplogroups have been found in several of the Scottish West coast clans e.g. Mac Donald and MacNeil. I only know of thes etwo clans for certain but it is likely that there are more.

[@AlexIlesUK]

👍🏻

[@martinjackman2943]

20:14 It's possible that the word "Angle"may well derive from the word Angarion the name given to the postal and haulage systems of the Roman Empire including Britain.. despatch riders units left in control of the Britannic provinces after 410

[@AlexIlesUK]

I've heard people say this but I'm not convinced at all :)

[@HighWealder]

Read that the term 'Angle' is related to 'angle', fishing.

[@martinjackman2943]

@@HighWealder Why would only one group of people have that given name when fishing with lines was commonplace?

[@AlexIlesUK]

Old thought and it's not substantiated. There is a theory it's connected to the Angon - a throwing spear but no one is certain.

[@martinjackman2943]

@@AlexIlesUK It's a thought provoking idea.. and with circumstantial evidence. I'm personally sceptical about the "from Angeln" story... It's as likely the place got it's name from the people..possibly ex Roman feodorati setting up shop there... The origin is mysterious...Definitely no angels though!

[@ginaibisi777]

Can you please, record a video about the Southern Europe and particularly the Balkans and its people.

[@AlexIlesUK]

I'll look for papers! Thank you for the request

[@greggoodson9082]

Thanks again. Alex! Certainly, think there will be utility in using the twigstats moving forward. Not sure that some of the conclusions marry up with McColl et al, particularly with respect to Scandibavian Iron Age genetic variation.

[@AlexIlesUK]

What year is McColl et al? Do you have a link so I can read it? Glad you are enjoying it. P.s. are you an academic? Forgive me if we've chatted and I can't remember!

[@greggoodson9082]

@@AlexIlesUK It was this year I think. I'll dig out the reference for you.

[@AlexIlesUK]

@greggoodson9082 thank you!

[@AlexIlesUK]

Is it this one: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.13.584607v1

[@AlexIlesUK]

Also, do you have access to this one? www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168952523000215

[@tobyplumlee7602]

Very interesting video ❤️👍

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you.

[@mweskamppp]

I often hear from people about the celts and celtic language and all that. I doubt there was one language room for the celtic culture room as some people say. Roman described the celtic Galater in Anatolia as having the same language as the people from Trier at the today german-french border though. There is also a dialect border inside of germany today that resembles the border between celtic and germanic tribes as the romans saw it at about 300bc to 100bc. common agreement is, that some kind of celtic culture had its origin in the salt mining of today Austria app 1500 bc with a later change to an oppida culture in the room north of the alpes with a center in LaTene what is today france and expanding from there through today france and reaching the british islands.

[@AlexIlesUK]

I doubt pan-celtisism as it's often proposed. They are made out as a united block, all speaking the same language and united against everyone else. The reality is quite different.

[@honkytonk4465]

Pronunciation of Klosterneuburg Klohstair(emphasis on Kloh)-noy-boork the 'oo' like in book but slightly shorter

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you, a few people have pointed this out

[@Andy_Babb]

Why does this channel only have 4.5k subs?? KZbin algorithm failing again

[@AlexIlesUK]

Working on changing that!

[@Andy_Babb]

@@AlexIlesUK well, you’ve certainly got my support! Thanks for your great videos!

[@AlexIlesUK]

@Andy_Babb that's massively appreciated!

[@Andy_Babb]

@@AlexIlesUK Hapoy to do my little part lol I’m looking forward to watching your channel grow - I have no doubt you’ll hit 100K before we know it!

[@AlexIlesUK]

@Andy_Babb that indeed would be the dream, we'll see how long it takes but I hope to come back and to be able to comment under this post once that does happen!

[@amriksinghtziripouloff8627]

Danemark receaved a large influx of pagan Saxon refugies after the invasion of Saxony by Charlemagne and his persecution of the Pagan Saxons.

[@AlexIlesUK]

This is posible. I will need to do more reading on the topic.

[@zipperpillow]

The Saxons fled everywhere after Charlemagne including Denmark and southern Sweden, as did the occupants of so called "Germania" after the Romans defeated them 800 years earlier. The actual history of the so called "Germans" has been very poorly understood, and very badly mis-represented. Using vague terms like "Scandinavia" doesn't help. Imprecise terms like "Iron Age Scandinavian" is not specific enough to be useful. Pop historians like this only muddy the waters further with their unrigorous opinions.

[@arkaig1]

Price et al 2014 "Galgedil" "UO" Y=I2 (not I1), I-Y3713 c2000BC UK [no?], but c1000AD in DK, plus isotopes too. 3Ky to get there, but seemed 'above averagely' interesting to me. FYI at least. Nice video, thanks!

[@AlexIlesUK]

I'm a bit confused as I'm not discussing Price et al ,(2014) would you be able to explain? Thanks you though.

[@arkaig1]

@@AlexIlesUK Me too (re being confused). It perhaps regarded your point, at 24:40 to 26:50, about it maybe being an actual example of the as you say rarer migration from British Isles folks to Denmark or South Scandinavia, versus other more common migrations mentioned earlier or later. It is not just thrice odd, but four times so, not just (1) "British" Y-DNA, and buried in Denmark (2) arguably peacefully so, but (3) isotope analyses also backing this being a long or native Danish person, so I was excited it would be an example of this rare group to which you alluded. It was just oddly in my hand, in my looking up my Y-DNA from 1560-1640 Suffolk. But then, and this seems to me to make it less useful, (4) with the 2000 BCE UK Y DNA haplogroup being 3000 years old, at the time of 1000 AD DK burial, it's use as an example becomes somewhat not so likely, without more data to isolate when the migration from UK back to DK actually took place. I probably shouldn't have hit that all-so-tempting "Comment" button. But it was still striking me as rather odd. Odd enough, maybe not. Sorry, and thanks. Would TWIGSTATS be something that could be brought to bear on these burials? Any better inferences welcome, or critique of these welcome. Ish. Sheepishly, still your fan, regardless! Yes, this is me doubling down, in a reply. Cheers!

[@AlexIlesUK]

@arkaig1 I'll try to break this down and reply more on this later!

[@arkaig1]

@@AlexIlesUK Awesome! It just looked like it was interesting, and maybe edifying, for more than just me! Perhaps I'm a bit to willing to be Mr. Bad Example... :)

[@AlexIlesUK]

In a simple way, yes twigstats would help but it's tough to say without setting up a research question to answer. Glad your enjoying the episodes!

[@tobyplumlee7602]

So what you are calling German gentics in the video is this a mixture of Germanic related already to the Scandinavians further North who are also considered Germanic. I would think during this time they would be a good mix of Celtic and Germanic in central Europe.

[@AlexIlesUK]

I believe I covered that with the Roman populations. The Germanic Scandinavian populations had started in Germany and migrated north before returning centuries later.

[@tobyplumlee7602]

@@AlexIlesUK I went back and watchex about the Roman populations. In reference to "German genetics in Central Europe. What I was thinking is when some Scandinavian Germanic peoples returned to the areas of Central Europe where many of their Germanic ancestors once lived they would have come in contact with Germanic peoples and distant cousins who were no longer purely Germanic genetically since the Celts had been in parts of Central Europe even earlier than the Germanic peoples so where the Celts pushed out or did they mix with the Germanic peoples in Central Europe with Germanic languages winning and Germanic culture blending with Celtic in certain areas. So what you are calling Germanic in the video would be actually a mixture of Germanic and Celtic DNA as well as a mix of other minority groups that may have settled in the area during the time period being discussed here in the video? If so and if this population mixing took place in Central Europe did it happen well before the Germanic settlement of the Scandinavian region or for the greatest extent afterwards with those in closer proximity peoples with a slightly different culture and genetic structure occupying lands further south from Scandinavia in parts of Central and Western Europe where these groups overlapped and possibly blended with Germanic genetics ? The Germans who went into Scandinavia would be maybe less mixed than other groups of Germans that remained settled in central Europe longer . Also I'm aware that in the North there would have been mixing to a degree with peoples there they came into contact with such as the Finno-Ugric people and Sami. In that case the genetics between these groups would have diverged while retaining a Germanic culture. I'm just really curious how Europe was populated and what went into the European genetics region by region. I love researching using both genetics, archeology, anthropology, and history. My hobby.

[@petehoover6616]

~20:00 The British cavalryman dying in Austria: that's the pipe tune "The Green Hills of Tyrol"

[@AlexIlesUK]

I don't know it but I'll look it up!

[@stevehansen9277]

Mate, you sound good and interesting, but you made one huge blunder: it's not "Merigovians", it's Merovingians.

[@AlexIlesUK]

I am dislexic and even with that written down can't hear the difference between the two words you've written. The only thing I can say is you knew what I was on about? I hope that convinces you to come back.

[@stevehansen9277]

@@AlexIlesUK Yeah, no worries, I like what you're doing. Have you got the reference for that paper on Breton DNA?

[@AlexIlesUK]

@stevehansen9277 yes, it's www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.03.478491v1.full Also it's a 2023 paper - I made the mistake when I started :)

[@ROALD.]

Nice one Alex, keep up the good work

[@erichamilton3373]

At the genetic level, it may be better to say "Continental Western European" rather than French & German. It would be a more accurate designation.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thanks for the feedback, I was using terms from the paper so I was in line with the report and findings but those are very useful terms.

[@robertvermaat2124]

@ Vibek Culture First of all, as a historian I always cringe a bit when I come across 'Zero AD'..;) I didn't know about the Vibek Culture, all I know were the 'Gothic'. Oksywie culture, the Przeworsk culture and the following Sukow-Dziedzice group. Btw, we identify there through material items, not dna? Or has that changed? Btw, I don't mind addressing these as 'Gothic' - as long as we understand that 'Gothic' is not an ethnic demarcation but far more a political one.

[@AlexIlesUK]

The burials contain Vibeck items and it correlates with the new Germanic aDNA, and the culture disappears and so does that aDNA, does that make sense. Glad your ok with Gothic.

[@EugenioFilippi]

Like the video, cheers.... Klosterneuburg is "Kloster-Neu-Burg" (monastery new castle basically) so not KlosterNunberg or whatever that was 😊 but good effort cheers

[@AlexIlesUK]

Ah thank you, I hope the content overcomes pronunciation!! At least it means there's good engagement in the comments. I will try to improve many times, I struggle as I've not heard these words before and I'm quite dislexic, so I do my best to say it as I think it should sound until I encounter someone who can correct me - I often learn best by hearing. Thank you so much for understanding!!

[@EugenioFilippi]

Absolutely, no one can pronounce everything in every language correctly but I appreciate the fact that you ask for feedback, and learning is the best part about these kind of videos, so keep it up, thanks for the interesting analysis!

[@AlexIlesUK]

@EugenioFilippi you are welcome! Aye it's harder when you don't know the Rules for each language. I do tour guiding in the North East of England and we have Bamburgh Castle, Americans pronounce it Bam-Burg while it's pronounced Bam- Bur- Ruh. Just one example

[@darrylhalden1948]

Hello...I think the Romans "recruited" local tribes and communities wherever they went....that may be why particular tribes and communities in Briton poltically &culturally distinct from their neighbours at the time that roman administration was declining... faced an existential crisis perhaps. There are hints here and there that some recruited anglo-saxon and other groups who had come with the roman legions as a possible defence but this did not work in the long term to the dominant favour of this hybridised culture, as an era of sustained anglo-saxon migration unfolded.

[@AlexIlesUK]

They definitely recruited wherever they went!

[@casteretpollux]

"Southern Britain" is not representative of the British Isles as it was far more subject of waves of settlement from mainland Europe.

[@AlexIlesUK]

By clarification of 'Southern' shows I'm only speaking about that area. I'm waiting for a paper to be published on Northumbria, and I've done Pictish and Anglo-Saxon aDNA in other episodes. :)

[@AnthonyEvelyn]

I'd like to see True Geordie's DNA genetic connection. I think he probably has strong Danish influences.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Are you referring to me when you say True Geordie?

[@danielferguson3784]

The critical period is that of the Roman Empire itself, & how much migration & DNA shift happened then. For Britain it is not sufficient to distinguish between the BC Iron Age people & those of the 5th-6th centuries AD, & to assume most change occurred after the 'fall' of the Roman West. Surely the employment of thousands of continental troops in Auxiliary Cohorts by the Romans in Britain etc, many of whom were of Germanic stock, as well as from other, some very distant regions, must have had a considerable impact on the local population long before the conventional 'migration' period. Recall the Batavians, from the Rhine island, expert light horsemen, employed at Vindolanda etc, a Germanic People, with many Cohorts in Britain, vital in the conquest. Also the likely relationship between British people & the Netherlands in language & DNA. How about Britons being willing participants in 'viking'. Migrations etc are never used only one way. The Scandinavians were part of the Germanic mega grouping, & again people could move in several directions, as could their DNA. Cultural groups are never sealed off, but mix with neighbouring peoples.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Well there's a paper on the Roman empires aDNA which I'm going to read when I get home from holiday!

[@brianlewis5692]

I think it's true to say that *today* you can be of one cultural identity while of a different ethnic origin, but that was much less the case back in the Migration period. Back then if you weren't kin you simply didn't fit in, and you were either ousted, subjugated, or killed. Today, society has to work 100% plus overtime in order to combat natural human tendencies towards tribalism and insularism, and it's a struggle to do so even today--and it's still very prevalent in many if not most places. How much more prevalent would it have been back in those days in the absence of a societal governance and pressure to drive to the contrary.

[@AlexIlesUK]

It depends on where you are and what is going on. The Goths seem to have included a lot of separate and disparate tribes, sharing a genetic identity. The Romans are also a good example of this too, widely different peoples and identity across the empire.

[@kubhlaikhan2015]

My takeaway was the exact opposite - that people have always intermarried with neighbours and partners along their precious trading routes. So long as you are useful you are welcome. Conflict only arises between rival trade routes and it is the conflict that silos those populations, not "race".

[@petehoover6616]

Men are seldom rude to pretty women.

[@mweskamppp]

Pronunciation is difficult. I will try to explain it for Klosterneuburg. First the name for its meaning. It could be written in english as Monastry Newcastle. For the Pronunciation: Kloster - you want to use a long o - you could add an h behind the o but your o was pronounced correct. Neu - you could write it as noi as in noisy. Burg - the u is different more as in boo-hoo.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you! I struggle with English and I learn mostly by hearing rather than reading - for some reason seeing it on paper I can't convert it easily into sounds. Just a struggle I face but I really appreciate you being understanding!!

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

My The Lord help your channel amen. ✝

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you very much Noah!

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@AlexIlesUK your welcome Alex 🙏🏻

[@youlemur]

youre mixing something up, you cant have Iron Age Bavaria and Roman Iron Age (?) together, its like 1000 years apart :) edit: or early medieval I think you said, sorry cant and wont catch you per word, just something that triggered me a little:) edit2: simply Iron Age in Central Europe is like 500 BC the latest...

[@AlexIlesUK]

The early medieval period started in the 5th century :) it's a term what's a lot more effective than Dark ages. In Europe the medieval period starts after the Romans.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Iron age starts about 1000 BC and lasts until the Roman period, which could be argued to be the Brass age!

[@youlemur]

@@AlexIlesUK I dont want to be like that guy from that XKCD comic strip where hes at a computer and saying to his girlfriend in bed: "wait a minute honey, someone is WRONG on the internet!" xD I will just subscribe and look forward to the next vid:)

[@AlexIlesUK]

@youlemur ha don't worry, you've been fine and it's great that you've asked! You should see some of the comments I get. There's a lad with mental health issues who pops up occasionally and talks about Alien DNA and that a certain type of people are demons wearing human skin! Honestly really enjoy this and hope that I can clarify if I haven't made sense in the video. :)

[@cconder19]

Why pronounce Mer-oh-ven-gians as go-vian? Is that a UK thing?

[@AlexIlesUK]

Simply a mistake when I'm ready from my prompt script and dealing with a lot of information!

[@henocarbouet4093]

I believe to be descended from Odo of Aquitaine and ultimately Merovingians; I believe my genetics bear that out I need help from scientific community

[@AlexIlesUK]

How do you know?

[@henocarbouet4093]

@ I am claiming Headship of the House of Gascony I descend from the “Landes” branch through the Arbuet family. Garcia II Sánchez ca860 is male line descendant of Odo of Aquitaine per many genealogies. My dna seems to bear this out being that I have WAMH with outlying EHG (High) even though my lineage is Gascon?

[@AlexIlesUK]

@henocarbouet4093 please press your claims, things can only get more exciting these days.

[@MrTheatrick]

Your map for the 5th century had the angels saxons and jutes in the wrong place

[@AlexIlesUK]

It's not intended to give an indication of the migration and the regions they came from.

[@MrTheatrick]

@@AlexIlesUK hmm i dont realy understand the point then but oh well i'm autistic xD

[@darekbaszczyk5972]

There is no Vibek culture, there is Wielbark culture, read vee elbark.

[@AlexIlesUK]

I appreciate the feedback, it was the information from the paper. Would you be able to tell me the name of the book or paper because I have searched for Vee Elbark and not got any sources. Best wishes, Alex

[@malaxes]

@@AlexIlesUKWielbark is the name in current Poland and previously Prussia. This is a term used in Polish Archeology (kultura Wielbarska)and I am not sure how it is described and pronounced in western terminology.

[@ekesandras1481]

ethnicity ≠ toponym. The tern ethnic toponym makes no sense. "Anglo-Saxon" is not a toponym, nor is Breton, Frankish, Hunnic, Avar, Slavic, etc.

[@AlexIlesUK]

I am sorry, the correct term, which I discovered after filming is a ethnonym - hope that helps.

[@ekesandras1481]

@@AlexIlesUK yes, thanks.

[@jansrensen7582]

There is some egypt And some korean In Wales. The koreans came with the sons of djengis Kahn Ok.

[@AlexIlesUK]

I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean.

[@dave3gan]

The racial purists are going to be upset

[@AlexIlesUK]

Aye that is often the case

[@neilplace8522]

I’m baffled by Alex. His presentation seems scholarly and well-researched but is riddled with mispronunciations and inaccuracies, i.e. Wielbark and Merovingians. He’s just so damn likable tho.

[@AlexIlesUK]

He also tries to respond to all comments, and while I struggle sometimes with pronunciation, as I am dislexic and while reading my notes I sometimes find it hard to reember every pronunciation. I do belive I am accurate in what I say. If you have a problem with some of my information please tell me and I will try to clarify. As for being likable, I hope so - I try to get on with most people. Best wishes, Alex

[@davidbraun6209]

"Different from," damn it all, not "diferent to!"

[@AlexIlesUK]

Ah this comment is different to the rest.

[@karlosmatiko2241]

Yo soy europeo y viejo, hace de ello ADN viejo??😂

[@AlexIlesUK]

Don't be too hard on yourself.

[@karlosmatiko2241]

​@@AlexIlesUKademás soy vasco, con un abuelo gallego y una abuela danesa, el occidental perfecto 😂😂

[@ROALD.]

Merogovians? Merovingians

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you, see my response below.

[@jacquelinevanderkooij4301]

I'm glad my frisian forfathers did not leave any DNA in England. 😂😂😂 Just only intermarried within our own tribe.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Well. a Frisian and a Anglo-Saxon are genetically identical according to new research!

[@natbirchall1580]

Europe is not that big. I wallked from the Netherlands to Spain in 3.5 months and even had time for a few girlfriends.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Ok

[@jansrensen7582]

Wandals is not gotha. Gotha is from sweden. Wandals. Is from denmark. ❤

[@AlexIlesUK]

?

[@casteretpollux]

Please dont confuse culture with dna. They are 2 different things. Migration is quite complex enough without this sloppiness.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Where do I do that? I am quite clear that they are separate in this episode. Feel free to watch again and tell me where you think I've said that!?

[@davec5153]

Best to get it done now, it'll be such a jumble in a few years.

[@AlexIlesUK]

What divides people are those who make a change and those who sit there staring at the wall. If you believe only the worst then you'll get angry and depressed.

[@SatanSitting]

Good, Lord! Dear, Almighty. The difference between culture or genome or.. the differences, between the day and age. . . . . I am not, about to go on, any further. This, is like trying to difute the differences, between a rainbow or a kaleidoscope. . . . . Or "the" Rainbow.. or any chances for the benefaction to toothpaste commercials and the adulterated anger, that besets everyone jealous, for Hollywood, California. Depravity or popularity? And what, it this supposed to mean? They say, Californians are mean. I agree.

[@AlexIlesUK]

I don't know what you are trying to say.

[@AnnaSibirskaja]

Stopped watching on "ethnically Chinese" at 06:00

[@AlexIlesUK]

That's sad, he's awesome.

[@Mrs.Entwife]

Pitty, @AnnaSibirskaja. It was a really great example of the point @AlexIlesUK was trying to make--that people of drastically different ancestries can share the same culture. Same is true with most of American culture.

[@TinoCarthorn]

Roman Emperor is made up😅😅😅😅😅

[@AlexIlesUK]

Of course, I presume you've popped over from TicTok ;)

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

So right mate that culture isn`t the same as race

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you Wayne