Anthroeurope

Durango : Basque Country (Spain)

2012-01-22T11:28:00.007+01:00

The area of Durango - dubbed Duranguesado in Spanish and Durangaldea in Basque - is part of the province of Biscay : it has been continuously inhabited by men since Upper Paleolithic times as proved for instance by the "cueva de Bolinkoba" (Abadiño).

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark, leptomorphic, long and triangular head, long and straight nose, close-set eyes, full eyebrows, pointy chin and large jaw
~ (Dinaromorphic) Atlanto-Mediterranean

Those phenotypes are quite representative of an average Basque type which can be found throughout Basque lands.

Variants of this type are somehow more interesting to my SW French eyes : not that impressive leptomorphism, grey eyes, chestnut hair, angular features, ... I've yet to fully know whether or not this type is that abundant in French Basque lands but for sure, those people are what I associate with being Basque-looking, not as in "stereotypically looking" but as in "these types are not to be found amongst neighbouring populations". Notice that such types were completely absent in Rioja Alavesa.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, large face, square-box head head, little and straight nose, rather distanced eyes, little eyelids, large jaw
~ Alpinoid

Brachymorphic types are rare as expected for a Basque sample. It is mostly a female thing BTW. Still those people look rather Basque as opposed to Alpinoid types of non-Basque parts of Iberia : pseudo-mongoloid features can be found now and then for instance. These people seem to be rather light-featured as well.

Final morphotypes :

fastIBD analysis of Iberia, France, Italy, Balkans, Anatolia and European Jews

2012-01-20T12:35:00.002+01:00

Here's an interesting study by Dienekes :

fastIBD analysis of Iberia, France, Italy, Balkans, Anatolia and European Jews

The inter-population IBD study is rather interesting IMO as it clearly defines patterns in SW Europe even though I don't get everything to be honest : Heatmap. Interestingly enough, the French Basques seem to share more with Aragonese people than with fellow Spanish Basque people, which is pretty relative though but it might hint to a structure within "Vasconian" lands which has yet to be properly analyzed.

My own results : DOD133

French Basque : 4.93

Pais_Vasco_1KG : 1.84

Aragon : 1.66

Murcia : 0.93

Cantabria : 0.71

Castilla la Mancha : 0.63

Valencia : 0.53

Cataluña : 0.34

French : 0.09

Galicia : -0.05

Rioja Alavesa : Basque Country (Spain)

2012-01-07T19:14:00.005+01:00

The area named "Rioja Alavesa" possesses clear limits : in the North, the Sierra de Toloño cuts the area from the rest of Álava and the Ebro river divides it from Rioja. Nevertheless, rivers never were borders and the whole basin of the Ebro river in this very vicinity shares a common ethno-cultural past which might date back from Neolithic times and was consolidated by Roman rule. In that respect, the Basque language was probably wiped out very early in History, Basque placenames are sparse if not non-existent, ...

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark, leptomorphic, long and triangular head, long and straight nose, close-set eyes, full eyebrows, pointy chin and large jaw
~ (Dinaromorphic) Atlanto-Mediterranean

Unsurprisingly enough, not that many people approach "ideal" Basque types as one can define them stereotypically wise (see previous samples in proper Basque-speaking lands) though now and then, some individuals are not that dissimilar. Eventually, in my opinion, the Ebro valley clearly is transitional towards "Castillian" types even though parts of Rioja may look more "Basque" than Rioja Alavesa as far as my samples are concerned. I stick to the model that the Ebro was a highway in ancient times through which new ways of life and people communicated and which may have cut ancient Vasconian lands from each other.

Let's notice a somehow interesting sexual dimorphism already found in Rioja with women being more impressive than their male counterparts (more elongated on average which reflects pretty much on the morphotype).

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, large face, square-box head head, little and straight nose, rather distanced eyes, little eyelids, large jaw
~ Alpinoid

These types clearly show affinities with Alpinoid types already identified in previously sampled areas in the Ebro valley such as Rioja or Tarazona in Aragon. No Basque affinity whatsoever as far as I am concerned.

Final morphotypes :

Valencia de Alcántara : Extremadura (Spain)

2011-12-26T19:26:00.007+01:00

The area of Valencia de Alcántara - which used to belong to the Lusitanians - is known for its high concentration of dolmens built in Neolithic times.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark, leptomorphic, long and triangular head, long and straight nose, close-set eyes, full eyebrows, pointy chin and large jaw
~ (Dinaromorphic) Atlanto-Mediterranean

Those people belong to a classical pan-Iberian type even though one has to notice that they exhibit very angular traits. This type could funnily be labelled "conquistador-like". Still, within Mediterranean metrics, one can find individuals showing "puffier" features (nose, lips, ...) : these people are somehow Portuguese-looking.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, large face, square-box head head, little and straight nose, rather distanced eyes, little eyelids, large jaw
~ Alpinoid

Such types are widespread throughout the whole peninsula. I cannot say these individuals exhibit features that I would associate with Portugal but wide-spaced sloping eyes are rather common in West Iberia. To end with that panorama of the various faces in this corner of Extremadura, let's notice a square-shaped brachymorphic type yet exhibiting decisive angular traits that were already analyzed on lepto types in the first part.

Final morphotypes :

Solsona : Catalonia (Spain)

2011-12-12T21:43:00.005+01:00

A pre-Pyrenean Catalan comarca, Solsonès (capital : Solsona) probably was inhabited either by the Lacetani (who gave their name to Catalonia : Lacetania got to be deformed as Catalonia) or the Bergistani, both Iberian tribes.

Solsonès within Catalonia

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark, leptomorphic, long and triangular head, long and straight nose, close-set eyes, full eyebrows, pointy chin and large jaw
~ (Dinaromorphic) Atlanto-Mediterranean

Those people belong to a common Catalan type already identified in French Catalonia or in neighbouring Aragon : let's notice some ethnic secondary features such as thick eyebrows, somehow distant eyes, strong jaw, ...

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, large face, square-box head head, little and straight nose, rather distanced eyes, little eyelids, large jaw
~ Alpinoid

As expected, people not belonging to Type 1 rather show Alpinoid puffy features already identified in this area.

Final morphotypes :

Valle de Campoo : Cantabria (Spain)

2011-11-20T12:02:00.011+01:00

Traditionally, the whole area - formerly known as the Merindad de Aguilar de Campoo - encompassed lands now in modern Palencia and it had been this way since ancient times. It is likely that here was situated the Roman town of Iuliobriga, a Roman colonial creation the name of which is related to Flaviobriga (to emperors' names, Celtic "briga" was added) and the ruins of which can be found not far from Reinosa. The Valley of Campoo is where the Ebro river's source can be found.

Cantabrian lands in Roman times

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from blonde to dark hair, black/grey eyes, rather pale skin on average, ...), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), straight or convex nose rather parallel to the face, rather close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ (Dinaricized) Atlanto-Mediterranean

Are they really Atlanto-Med ? Nordoid ? Atlantid ? Eventually, I don't really care about terminology : what matters is that these people are all more or less leptomorphic (women being considerably larger-faced) and share common features such as blue eyes, a rather protuding and convex nose, ... This type was already identified in the Valley of Pas.

A little note about my beliefs (it's important after months of stand-by and me not answering to some comments made) : the way I sort people out is pretty straightforward. On one hand, lepto people, on the other hand, brachy ones with transitional people being lumped into one category or another. I firmly believe that what matters most are secondary features such as the distribution of nose shape. To sum up, my goal is to find common family traits between neighbouring populations to infer whether or not they may be closely related.

In this peculiar case, there's only one question : do these Cantabrian people look like Basque people ? My personal feeling is "somehow" but still within a distinct variation. Do they look Asturian on average ? I cannot say for sure, but the average lack of dark brachy Asturo-Galician types clearly hints to another genetic landscape (see my Asturian samples for an illustration or check morphotypes which are good averages).

- Type 2 : Dark complexion (dark hair, black eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, in some cases high-headed, rather little nose (on males at least), strong jaw, close-set eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean

This is an usual Iberian type quite widespread in the North of the peninsula. More interestingly maybe, one can find individuals who show the same "reduced" and puffy features yet appear to be elongated variants of the previous individuals (you've got a good example of me hesitating where to put these "transitional" people who are only transitional as I define "ideal" types which are not). Notice the jaw shape.

Final morphotypes :

Caravaca : Murcia (Spain)

2011-08-29T01:18:00.005+02:00

A recent study (see Maju's summary here : Basque autosomal genetics) has shown that Murcians may have been less subject to Neolithic migrations than their immedate neighbours such as Andalusians or Valencians, a fact corroborated by archeology. Consequently, I've decided to deal with Murcia once more, this time making more localized samples, in order to check whether or not Murcians really appear more Northern-looking in a South Iberian context, phenotypically wise. I'll begin that "remake" of Murcia in the NE of the province, around Caravaca de la Cruz.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from blonde to dark hair, grey/black eyes, rather pale skin on average, ...), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlanto-Mediterranean

I cannot possibly say whether or not these individuals are strikingly more Northern-looking than their neighbouring counterparts. This type is rather pan-Iberian even though these individuals' relative robustness rather places them within the North-West Iberian spectrum as opposed to the East-Iberian pole (the famous "horsy" features).

A square-boxed variant - transition with Type 2 - can be found as well. After browsing other samples, I find that such types are somehow rarer in Andalusia. These people remind me of Aragonese people from Teruel. I cannot say for sure but the nose seems to be always convex.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (rather light hair, light eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, square-box head, little and puffy nose, strong jaw, rather distanced and somehow chinky eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean

These people are somehow rather light though they could fit in Valencia or Andalusia albeit in rarer density. The puffy nose shape is rather commonly shared by all these people. I won't dare say these people corroborate the genetic results of the aforementioned study. We'll see later with more Murcian samples.

Final morphotypes :

Vigo : Galicia (Spain)

2011-06-28T21:52:00.005+02:00

Galicia, northern Portugal, Asturias, western León, and Zamora formed a single megalithic area since the Neolithic and Chalcolithic (also called Copper Age) Ages, around 4500–1500 BCE. Historians believe that Megalithic culture had two sources: an oriental source that was predominant in the Mediterranean area, and one in the Atlantic, which originated north of the Tagus River. The latter, because of its geographical proximity to Galicia, would explain the abundant traces of megalithic culture in this area. That this should be the first great culture also meant that it constituted one of the basic pillars that was to endow Galicia's cultural personality.

At the end of the Iron Age, people from northwestern Iberian Peninsula conformed already a homogeneous cultural unity which differentiated themselves from others and which later would be identified by the early Greek and Latin Authors, calling to this group of peoples with the name of Gallaeci (Galicians).

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion, leptomorphic, gracile general features, narrow "horsy" face, long and narrow nose, high cheekbones, a rather broad jaw, close-set eyes (rather light on average), rather narrow eyelids
~ Nordo-Mediterranoid

This type - amusingly said to be "horsy" - is very Portuguese-looking and confirms the historical links between Galicia and what would become Portugal. The very label under which I classified is not that important : metrics are "Nordo-Mediterranean" ; as for "Atlantic" -which I omited this time - it's just a convenient way to emphasize on vague secondary features rather proper to Western Europe. Larger-faced - nearly square-faced - variants are found as well : such types are noted for very angular features frequently found amongst Portuguese people as well (mostly women).

- Type 2 : Dark complexion (dark hair but rather pale skin), brachymorphic, broad face, round features, short and broad nose, wide-set eyes, wide-spaced sloping and rather chinky eyes
~ Alpinoid

This type is abundantly found in Portuguese and adjacent NW Spanish areas : some individuals would fit a "Berid" definition (wide-spaced sloping eyes, a short broad nose and thick browridges).

Final morphotypes :

Wexford : Leinster (Ireland)

2011-06-19T12:20:00.003+02:00

The county is rich in evidence of early human habitation : Ireland was inhabited sometime shortly after the ending of the last Ice Age, approximately 10,000 - 8000 BC. Conservative estimates place the arrival of the first humans in County Wexford as occurring between 5000 BC - 3000 BC, referred to as the Mesolithic period in Ireland, though they may have arrived slightly earlier. Its proximity to Britain and Europe means that County Wexford was probably one of the earliest areas of Ireland to be inhabited by humans.

Portal tombs exist at Ballybrittas (on Bree Hill) and date from the Neolithic period or earlier. Remains from the Bronze Age period are far more widespread.Early Irish tribes formed the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnsealaig, an area that was slightly larger than the current County Wexford.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (pinky undertones, light blue eyes, blonde hair, ...), leptomorphic, long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, high cheekbones, close-set eyes, rather angular and pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlantid aka "Keltic Nordic"

This type constitutes a basic "Celtic" insular phenotype : it is quite prevailing in this part of Ireland though more or less leptomorphic. Darker variants - dubbed Atlantid - do exist as well : some individuals combining dark hair and blue eyes constitute a very typical Irish phenotype.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (light skin, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, chubby features, rather low-rooted and little broad nose that can get convex, wide forehead, large and strong jaws, prominent chin, wide-set eyes
~ Alpinoid/Brünn

This is a very classical pan-British phenotype, it has attracted many authors who used this type to define Britishness. Surprisingly enough, as far as my sampling techniques are concerned, such types are rarer than in other parts of Ireland.

Final morphotypes :

Calahorra : La Rioja (Spain)

2011-06-06T23:12:00.006+02:00

The comarca of Rioja Baja is situated near the border with Navarre on the right bank of the Ebro. During ancient Roman times, Calahorra - its main town - was a municipium known as Calagurris : its belonging seems to be blurry as it either in the hands of the Berones or the Vascones.

La Rioja in pre-Roman times

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from blonde to dark hair, grey/black eyes, rather pale skin on average, ...), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlanto-Mediterranean

The sample is dominated by dinaromorphic types which is not surprising for an area next to Vasconic lands and once part of Basque-speaking lands. Still people seem to diverge from classical Basque types and are more on par with the usual Iberian types one can find in Castile.

Some individuals - still within the Mediterranoid spectrum - shows interesting features such as a shorter nose, a larger face, ... Such features can be found in Aragon as well, South of the Ebro river.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (rather dark hair, light eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, square-box head, little and puffy nose, strong jaw, rather distanced and somehow chinky eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean

This type is pretty widespread throughout the Iberian peninsula but might be more specifically Castillian/South Aragonese.

Morphotypes finaux / Final morphotypes :

Fribourg : Romandy (Switzerland)

2011-05-29T16:49:00.007+02:00

The region around Fribourg has been settled since the Neolithic period, although few remains have been found. These include some flint tools found near Bourguillon, as well as a stone hatchet and bronze tools. A river crossing was located in the area during the Roman Era. The main activity in the Swiss plateau bypassed the area to the north, however, and was instead centered around the valley of the Broye River and Aventicum.

The canton of Fribourg is a bilingual one : the French-speaking areas are in the west of the canton, whereas the Alemannic-speaking areas are in the east. Only the French-speaking - formerly Franco-Provençal-speaking - parts were sampled : a comparison with Alemannic-speaking villages will be interesting as the linguistic border seems to have been pretty stable since Germanic invasions.

French-speaking Switzerland in purple

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (from blonde to chestnut hair, light eyes, ...), leptomorphic, straight yet rather massive snub-tipped nose, very strong jaw, rather distant eyes
~ Nordoid

Contrary to other areas of Romandy, one can find some impressive Nordoid types which announce the Germanic world, both in terms of general robustness and complexion. Dinaromorphic variants - labelled as "Noric" - are more on par with what one can expect from "Arpitanian" lands : such individuals are strikingly more brachymorphic. Undoubtedly enough, such types are common in Austria or Germanic Switzerland as well.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (aqua-blue eyes, dark blonde hair, ...), brachymorphic, little and concave nose, square-box face, broad forehead, wide-set eyes, large jaw
~ Alpinoid/Subnordid

Unsurprisingly enough, the area is home to classical Alpine types abundantly found in the Rhône valley in France or in the whole North Alpine area though they are less common as far as this sampled is concerned. Some individuals - mostly female - are noticeably darker.

Final morphotypes :

Biella : Piedmont (Italy)

2011-05-10T23:04:00.005+02:00

A Ligurian people, the Victimuli, fanned out in the plain of Biella (the Bessa) and exploited gold veins near the Elvo, an activity which continued through the early Middle Ages, and even today panning for gold continues as a local hobby.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion, dark eyes, leptomorphic, narrow face, long and straight high-rooted nose that can get convex, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ Dinaromorphic Nordo-Mediterranean

Unsurprisingly enough, the sample is dominated by very classical pan-Italian types which are very common in NW Italy (Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy, ...). Despite being next to the "ethnic French" Valley of Aosta, Biella is totally North Italian as far as phenotypes are concerned. Lighter variants are found as usual.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, round face, rather straight nose, wide set eyes
~ Alpinoid

Brachymorphic types are rather rare in this area as far as my sampling techniques are concerned : such phenomenon was already noticed in Liguria. Furthermore these types are not really that brachymorphic and are certainly not "Alpinid" : there is a sharp contrast between both sides of the Alps.

Final morphotypes :

Lanzarote : Canary Islands (Spain)

2011-05-10T02:02:00.009+02:00

Lanzarote was probably the first Canary Island to be settled. The Phoenicians settled there around 1100 BC. The Greek writers and philosophers Herodotus, Plato and Plutarch described the garden of Hesperids, the land of fertility where fruits and flowers smell in the part of the Atlantic.

According to one study (see Canarians, NW Africans, Iberians, etc. from the viewpoint of autosomal DNA on Maju's blog), "Lanzarote (16%) and the larger islands of Tenerife (14%) and Gran Canaria (12%) seem the ones that have received the greatest Iberian input, however they still retain some aboriginal genetics as well."

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion, leptomorphic, narrow "horsy" face, long and straight nose yet somehow large, a rather broad jaw, close-set eyes, rather narrow eyelids
~ Mediterranean

Unsurprisingly enough, Lanzarote is dominated by a very classical Iberian type even though to my own eyes, these individuals somehow look "West Iberian" (Portugal, León, Extremadura, ...) because of secondary features such as very horsy traits, almond-shaped eyes, a flat nose, ... Should such features be attributed to North African admixture ?

A square-faced variant of this Mediterranean type can be encountered. Secondary features remain unchanged.

Eventually, still within leptomorphic range, one can find aberrant depigmented "Nordoid" individuals.

- Type 2 : Dark complexion (dark hair, dark skin, ...), brachymorphic, broad face, round features, short and rather convex nose, wide-spaced sloping and rather chinky eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean/Berid

Once more such types rather show similarities with types encountered in West Iberia and some individuals might show slight visible North African admixture as well. Eventually, one can find individuals exhibiting interesting fat deposits which somehow remind us of some New World types, funnily enough.

Final morphotypes :

Waldeck : Hesse (Germany)

2011-04-25T11:55:00.008+02:00

An early Celtic presence in what is now Hesse is indicated by a mid 5th century BC La Tène style burial uncovered at Glauberg. The region was later settled by the Germanic Chatti tribe in ca. the 1st century BC, and the name Hesse is a continuation of that tribal name. In the early Middle Ages, a Frankish gau comprising an area around Fritzlar and Kassel and a Saxon one further north were known as Hessengau. In the 9th century the Saxon Hessengau also came under the rule of the Franconians. In the 12th century it was passed to Thuringia.

The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg was created in 1972 by merging the two districts of Frankenberg and Waldeck. Most of the area of the district was previously part of the Freistaat Waldeck, the successor of the principality of Waldeck.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (light hair, light eyes, ...), more or less leptomorphic, a rather large face on some individuals, a high-rooted and convex nose, high cheekbones, close-set eyes, large jaw
~ Nordo-Dinaric

These individuals are rather Dutch/Belgian-looking : some authors have used the label "Keltic-Nordic" to label such type (generally used to describe similar types in the British Isles). By the way, terminology is rather useless : what matters is that such dinaromorphic type is nearly absent from more northern areas such as Lower Saxony and is quite abundant from Hesse to Bavaria. Some individuals are much more brachymorphic.

Eventually one can find rather indistinct Nordoid types - noted for rather puffier features particularly in the nose area lacking dinaromorphism - which are frequent in the whole of Germanic lands. These individuals are not impressively leptomorphic, quite the contrary actually, and they smoothly lead us to the the second type one can detect.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, more or less little and broad nose, square-faced, broad forehead, wide-set eyes, rather long eyelids, large jaw
~ Alpinoid/Subnordid

This category lacks unity : individuals come in all shape and complexion. Some individuals do show "Borreby" features, others are "Alpinid" as in Austria. There seems to be a subtle transition between both types somewhere in Germany but my skills don't allow me to tell more for the moment. It might just be an artefact eventually.

Final morphotypes :

Los Pasiegos : Cantabria (Spain)

2011-04-05T19:24:00.007+02:00

Cantabria is the richest region in the world in archaeological sites from the Upper Paleolithic period. The first signs of human occupation date from Lower Paleolithic, although this period is not so well represented in the region. The most significant cave painting site is the cave of Altamira, dated from about 16,000 to 9,000 BC.

In the whole valleys, the repopulation allowed by the foundation of several monasteries had great importance. This might explain the presence of Northern European haplogroups (see link) or why a study Cruciani et al 2004 states that 41.1% of sampled "Pasiegans" belonged to the haplogroup E-M81 found in modern Berber populations.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

Final morphotypes :

Vatican City : Lazio (Italy)

2011-04-01T20:55:00.009+02:00

Vatican City ( in Italian officially "Stato della Città del Vaticano" which translates as "State of the Vatican City"), is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of just over 800. The name "Vatican" comes from the Latin Mons Vaticanus, meaning Vatican Mount. The territory of Vatican City is part of the Mons Vaticanus, and of the adjacent former Vatican Fields.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (medium light hair, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, general robust features, squared-box face, high and broad forehead, little and broad nose that can get concave, deep jaw, wide-set eyes, glasses, a strange love for ridiculous hats
~ Borreby/Alpinoid

Such types might representent a rather northern influx as migrations from non-Romance Europe have been historically attested in Vatican. Women are more on par with classical Italian variation.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, red, leptomorphic, narrow face, long and straight high-rooted nose that can get convex, red, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin, red
~ Dinaromorphic Nordo-Mediterranean

Such types are generally associated with the Chiefs of State of the City of Vatican : "this is how a Pope should look like" to sum up. As a whole, it's a rather pan-European type (Italy, Iberia, Belgium, ...).

Final morphotypes :

Huesca : Aragon (Spain)

2011-03-12T13:55:00.005+01:00

Huesca's pre-Roman Iberian name was Bolskan. It was the capital of the Ilergetes, on the road from Tarraco (modern Tarragona) and Ilerda (modern Lleida) to Caesaraugusta (modern Zaragoza). The ethnic character of the area is rather dubious (Iberian or Basque ?) but it is a known fact a form of the Basque language might have been spoken up to the 1400s as proved by the infamous interdiction of 1349 : "quien faulare en basquenç pague por coto XXX sol...". Placenames undoubtedly show identified roots : Biscarrués, Gurrea, Loarre, ...

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from blonde to dark hair, grey/black eyes, rather pale skin on average, ...), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlanto-Mediterranean

As expected, these individuals seem to show obvious Basque-related features (a convex nose, a triangular face, high cheekbones, ...) while other individuals are more generic though still in the dinaromorphic spectrum which is the Pyrenean norm. More robust individuals and brachymorphic individuals are to be found and are rather stereotypically "North Aragonese"-looking.

Yet, much more interestingly perhaps, Huesca seems to exhibit Mediterranoid phenotypes which tend towards Catalan types and which are characterized by less impressive secondary features (rather little nose, brachymorphism, puffier features, ...).

Such types can eventually get more "extreme" thus showing very original features which I have yet to properly localize (full lips, puffy nose, strong eyebrows, ...) but that I somehow assimilate with Catalonia and neighbouring areas.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (rather dark hair, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, square-box head, little and puffy nose, strong jaw, rather distanced and somehow chinky eyes
~ Alpinoid

Striking Alpinoid types, abundantly found South of the Ebro river, are rather rare and never archetypal.

Morphotypes finaux / Final morphotypes :

Oriente : Asturias (Spain)

2011-03-05T11:57:00.003+01:00

Asturias has been occupied by humans since the Lower Paleolithic era, and during the Upper Paleolithic was characterized by cave paintings in the eastern part of the area. In the Mesolithic period, a native culture developed, that of the Asturiense, and later, with the introduction of the Bronze Age, megaliths and tumuli were constructed. In the Iron Age, the territory came under the cultural influence of the Celts; the local Celtic peoples, known as the Astures, were composed of tribes such as the Luggones, the Pesicos, and others, who populated the entire area with castros (fortified hill-towns).

In light blue

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (dark hair, ... but light eyes are frequent), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), straight or convex nose, rather close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ (Dinaricized) Atlanto-Mediterranean

A pan-Iberian type, these individuals nevertheless show affinities with NW Iberia (Galicia, North Portugal, ...) when it comes to secondary features such as the eye region (rather "slanted" eyes on some individuals, big eyebrows, ...) or the general aspect of the face (strong "horsy" features commonly found in Portugal for instance).

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to chestnut hair, from black to green/blue eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, in some cases high-headed, rather little nose (on males at least), strong jaw, close-set eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean

Such types have been abundantly described by classical anthropological literature : they dominate the whole Atlantic coast from Galicia to Western Cantabria (about Santander, phenotypes get more "Vascoid"). Let's notice a common secondary feature : eyes seem to be somehow "circled" in Asturias. More elongated variants can be found, yet still exihibiting those peculiar "puffy" features associated with the NW corner of Iberia.

Final morphotypes :

Haro : La Rioja (Spain)

2011-02-27T18:21:00.003+01:00

The area of Haro, also known as "La Rioja Alta", is delimitated by the Ebro river in the North which constitutes the border with Basque lands, and is mostly made of the valleys of the Tirón and the Oja rivers, two affluents of the Ebro. In the South, the area is separated from Soria by the "Picos de Urbión". "High Rioja" is where most Basque placenames of Rioja can be found : Cihuri, Sajazarra, Ochánduri, Nájera, Ezcaray, ...

La Rioja in pre-Roman times

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from blonde to dark hair, grey/black eyes, rather pale skin on average, ...), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlanto-Mediterranean

Unsurprisingly enough, some individuals exhibit rather obvious Vasconic features such as a strong dinaromorphism (read : a convex nose) or pseudo-slanted grey/green eyes. On average these people don't differ from their Riojanese neighbours in Logroño. Less archetypal Mediterranoid types are found as well.

Eventually, brachymorphic types can be found : these individuals are characterized by a very strong jaw. They're intermediate with Alpinoid type.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (rather dark hair, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, square-box head, little and puffy nose, strong jaw, rather distanced and somehow chinky eyes
~ Alpinoid

Such types are always uneasy to analyse as eventually they're rather undistinct and lack the decisive ethnic features leptomorphic types do possess. Let's say that this type is pretty widespread throughout the peninsula but might be more specifically Castillian.

Morphotypes finaux / Final morphotypes :

Logroño : La Rioja (Spain)

2011-02-27T13:36:00.010+01:00

The area of Logroño, also known as "La Rioja Media", is delimitated by the Ebro river in the North which constitutes the border with Basque lands, and is mostly made of the valleys of the Iregua and the Jubera rivers, two affluents of the Ebro. Like the remainder of La Rioja, the whole region used to belong to the Kingdom of Navarre and probably beforehand to the Berones whose ethnic character remains debated as most ancient placeames are undoubtedly Celtic even though a Proto-Basque past is very probable as proved by epigraphic remnants which show clear Vasconic traits.

La Rioja in pre-Roman times

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

Unsurprisingly enough, some individuals exhibit rather obvious Vasconic features such as a strong dinaromorphism (read : a convex nose) or pseudo-slanted grey/green eyes. On average these people are nevertheless rather large-faced (and it is not only about women) which is in contrast with the very leptoprosopic types one can find in Basque lands. Less archetypal Mediterranoid types are found as well.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (rather dark hair, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, square-box head, little and puffy nose, strong jaw, rather distanced and somehow chinky eyes
~ Alpinoid

Such types are rather rare as far as my sampling techniques allow me to state.

Final morphotypes :

Tudela : Navarre (Spain)

2011-02-22T19:07:00.007+01:00

Despite being originally part of the territory of the Vascones, the merindad of Tudela was only relatively and lately incorporated into the Kingdom of Navarre after the Reconquista : consequently, placenames don't show remnants of Basque toponymy and the culture of this area watered by the Ebro river is deeply Romance even though surnames now and then show Basque roots like in neighbouring Rioja (the Basque linguistic heritage of which is somehow more obvious).

The territory of the Vascones

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from blonde to dark hair, grey/black eyes, rather pale skin on average, ...), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlanto-Mediterranean

These individuals seem to show obvious Basque-related features (a convex nose, a triangular face, high cheekbones, grey/green eyes, ...). They don't differ much from their eastern neighbours in Cinco Villas but absolutely differ from Aragonese people in Tarazona.

Some more brachycephalic individuals, essentially masculine (women being less leptoprosopic in the first place except in some areas where women can be as long-faced as males), announce Alpinoid types (larger face, distant eyes, ...). They were already identified in Cinco Villas as well.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (rather dark hair, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, square-box head, little and puffy nose, strong jaw, rather distanced and somehow chinky eyes
~ Alpinoid

Interestingly enough, the "Ribera de Navarra" allows us to identify clear Alpinoid types even though some individuals - more particularly women - actually show features which are common up to the Basque-speaking lands of Navarre (a strong angular jaw for instance). Nevertheless, on first analysis, it is fair to theorize that these types are rather specific to the Ebro valley. Stay tuned.

Morphotypes finaux / Final morphotypes :

Tarazona : Aragon (Spain)

2011-02-21T12:36:00.004+01:00

Around Turiaso (modern Tarazona), the Ebro river more or less constituted the border between the Vascones of proto-Basque background situated on the northern bank (in what is now the Navarrese Riberra and Cinco Villas) and the Belli affiliated to the Celtiberians on the southern bank controlling both the mines of Moncayo and the valley of the Ebro river. The sampled area - which more or less follows the southern bank of the Ebro river - was thus in Celtiberian land.

Celtiberian tribes in the vicinity of Saragossa

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

This is a common Iberian type. These individuals don't show many signs of Basque influence (high cheekbones, triangle-shaped face, ...) contrary to their counterparts in Cinco Villas. We have clearly left "Vasconic" lands when crossing the Ebro river. The following "nose-less" variant confirms this assumption : we've entered "Iberian" lands.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (rather dark hair, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, square-box head, little and puffy nose, strong jaw, rather distanced and somehow chinky eyes
~ Alpinoid

Another pan-Iberian type abundantly found in North Iberia. Some individuals charcaterized by a very strong jaw and a rather specific nose are quite typical from non-Pyrenean Aragon and clearly dominate as one goes southwards. Let's notice that contrary to some other Iberian areas, those "Alpinoid" individuals are rather light as far as complexion is concerned.

Final morphotypes :

Cinco Villas : Aragon (Spain)

2011-02-18T19:26:00.005+01:00

Cinco Villas is one Aragonese comarca neighbouring Navarre in the West to which it had long belonged before the emergence of Aragon as a central Pyrenean power. Indeed, like its Navarrese neighbour, the area was populated by the Vascones, one of the many ancient Basque-speaking tribes of the area. This ancient Basque past still can be infered from the archaic placenames found in Cinco Villas : Ardisa, Isuerre, Ejea, Undués, Urriés, ... The local Aragonese language has been lost in most villages.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from blonde to dark hair, grey/black eyes, rather pale skin on average, ...), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlanto-Mediterranean

These individuals seem to show obvious Basque-related features (a convex nose, a triangular face, high cheekbones, ...) while other individuals are more generic though still in the dinaromorphic spectrum as far as I can tell. Lighter and more robust individuals can be found : they are quite typical from Pyrenean variability and can be found from the Basque Country to Pyrenean Catalonia.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, more or less leptomorphic, straight/convex nose that can get broad, large jaw, wide-set eyes
~ Dinaromorphic Alpino-Mediterranean

Those broader-faced types can be classically analyzed as lightly more brachymorphic variants of the first type - as I did in other samples for instance - though some specific features include a very large jaw, eyes that get distant, a rather large nose yet still convex, ... : they might constitute a fair approximation of an average Aragonese type.

Some clearly brachymorphic individuals (a broad and little nose, a bulbous forehead, ...) somehow diverge from the Pyrenean standard (even though this type is not absent from Basque lands for instance).

Morphotypes finaux / Final morphotypes :

Uri (Switzerland)

2011-02-06T20:15:00.004+01:00

The earliest evidence of a settlement in Altdorf - the capital of the canton of Uri - are several La Tène era bronze ax-heads and iron tools from the 3^rd Century BC. The people that settled in this region initially settled in the forest, and expanded toward the banks of the Reuss river. When the Reuss periodically flooded, the low lying settlements were destroyed and the inhabitants were driven back to the "old town", a possible source of the name Altdorf.

Following the collapse of the Roman Empire the local Gallo-Roman population of Altdorf began to mix with the Germanic Alamanni during the 7^th Century. The earliest evidence of this is the grave (dated to 670-680) of an armed horseman located in the local St Martin's Church.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, little and puffy nose, square-faced, broad forehead, wide-set eyes, large jaw, flappy ears
~ Alpinoid

This is a classical type widely found in the Alps and more particularly in German-speaking Switzerland. More elongated and lighter individuals - who falls in the Subnordid category as defined by classical anthropology - announce Nordic types. They're rather Germanic-looking and such types were absent from neighbouring Ticino, south of the Alpine crest in Romance lands.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (from blonde to chestnut hair, light eyes, ...), leptomorphic, narrow "horsy" face, straight or convex nose, high cheekbones, close-set eyes
~ Nordid

This type is also rather Germanic-looking and is quite widespread in the Alps (Austria, Switzerland, ...).

Final morphotypes :

Ávila : Castile and León (Spain)

2011-01-26T22:07:00.004+01:00

In pre-Roman times (5th century BC), it was inhabited by the Vettones, who called it Obila ("High Mountain") and had here one of their strongest fortresses. The Vettones were apparently a group of tribes of Hispano-Celtic and Celtiberian origin organized since the 3rd Century BC into a tribal confederacy of undeterminated strength. Even though their tribes’ names are obscure, the study of local epigraphic evidence has shed some light here, allowing the positive identification of the Calontienses, Coerenses, Caluri and Bletonesii, but the others remain unknown.

A predominantely cattle-herder people that practiced transhumance, archeology has identified them with the local 2nd Iron Age ‘Cogotas II’ Culture, also known as the ‘Culture of the Verrascos’ (verracos de piedra), named after the crude granite sculptures representing pigs, wild boars and bulls that still dot their former region.

Map of the location of the Vettones, was in several provinces of Spain and borders Portugal

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion (dark hair but rather pale skin), brachymorphic, broad face, round features, short and broad nose, wide-set eyes, wide-spaced sloping and rather chinky eyes
~ Alpinoid

This type was abundantly found in Portuguese and Leonese areas : it would fit a "Berid" definition. It seems to be quite widespread in the whole NW corner of the Iberian peninsula.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, leptomorphic, narrow "horsy" face, long and straight nose, high cheekbones, a rather broad jaw, close-set eyes, rather narrow eyelids
~ Atlanto-Mediterranean

This is a basic Iberian type. Somehow, these people remind us of neighbouring "horsy" Portuguese types. Another series can be identified which is characterized by angular facial features alongside puffy and rather unimpressive secondary features (nose, ...).

Final morphotypes :

[Dodecad Ancestry Project] Update : K=64 for Dodecad Project members

2011-01-25T14:39:00.006+01:00

As a prelude, for those reading my weblogs, don't worry, I just don't have much time to upload them. Still I've got tons of samples waiting for being updated.

Just a piece of news then : Dienekes updated his Dodecad project with a K=64 analysis. This time I was included : I'm DOD133.

Clusters Galore results, K=64 for Dodecad Project members (up to DOD307)

Unfortunately enough, Dienekes' privacy policy doesn't allow an easy identification of project members . Browse this topic for more info on participants. The results show that :

- Iberians cluster together at K=22 along with 3 North Italians and 5 Frenchmen. The 15 Dodecad project members can more or less all be identified.
- The French Basques define their own cluster at K=38.
- Rather interestingly, I define my own cluster at K=22 : to be more precise I'm joined by another Frenchman from the Lyons sample who must be that dot with Basque tendencies used by most companies and amateur geneticists (Dienekes, Polako, 23andme, ...). One can fairly deduce that this man from Lyons is either Gascon or a recent mix of Basque ancestry and a more mainstream French one (which might give similar results). Which is another proof that this Lyons sample should not be used without further data about who sampled individuals are.

Rethymno : Crete (Greece)

2010-12-29T14:24:00.003+01:00

This region as a whole is rich with ancient history, most notably through the Minoan civilization centred at Kydonia east of Rethymno. The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. The early inhabitants of Crete settled as early as 128,000 BC, during the Middle Paleolithic age.However it was not until 5000 BC that the first signs of advanced agriculture appeared, marking the beginning of the civilization.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion (black hair, ...), brachymorphic, large face, square-box head, rather bulbous forehead, puffy and little nose mostly on males, close-set eyes, large jaw
~ Alpino-Mediterranean

This is a classical pan-Greek type which somehow shows affinities with the Levant. For possible comparisons, see Anthroplanet as I update it with neighbouring non-European areas.

- Type 2 : Dark complexion (dark hair yet pale skin), dark eyes, leptomorphic, narrow and angular face, long and arched high-rooted nose, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ (Dinaromorphic) Eastern-Mediterranean

This is another classical Greek phenotype : as usual in Greek lands, one can notice a strange complexion dimorphism with women mostly falling in a noticeable lighter category (aqua-blue eyes, pale skin, ...). "Lighter" men somehow don't exhibit the very striking ethnic features of their female counterparts.

Final morphotypes :

L'Aquila : Abruzzo (Italy)

2010-12-28T19:42:00.004+01:00

Amiternum, a traditional cradle of the Sabines, is an ancient Sabine prefecture in the Abruzzo region of modern Italy at 9 km from L'Aquila. The modern province correspounds to the mountainous part of Abruzzo.

The Sabine language is scantily attested, mainly by explicit glosses written by ancient commentators on classical authors and inscriptions, The commentator gives an alternative word he says is the Sabine. In recent times one or possibly two Sabine inscriptions have been tentatively identified. Based on all the evidence the Linguist List classifies Sabine, again tentatively, as a member of the Umbrian Group of Italic languages of Indo-European family.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion, dark eyes, leptomorphic, narrow face, long and straight high-rooted nose that can get convex, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ Dinaromorphic Mediterranean

This is a classical pan-Italian type, this time though one can notice some peculiar secondary local traits such as a rather narrow droopy-tipped nose or a rather angular chin. Still exhibiting such local features, more brachymorphic individuals are found.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (chestnut hair, blue eyes, ...), brachymorphic, round face, little and low-rooted nose that can get snub-tipped, wide set eyes
~ Alpinoid/Subnordid

This is a rather original phenotype from an Italian point of view, not that these people are not Italian-looking, but such phenotypes are not expected in South Central Italy as far as stereotypes are concerned. I've still to define a geographic extension for such types.

Final morphotypes :

Valencia : Valencian Community (Spain)

2010-12-28T01:47:00.009+01:00

From the Eneolithic (2000 BC) until the Roman conquest of Iberia, Valencia was populated by Iberians, more precisely by the Edetani who throughout this long period were influenced by Phoenician cultures and Greek settlers on the coast. It is quite probable that the modern extension of the Catalan language into the province emulates the former extension of the Edutani.

In Liria, Iberian inscriptions were found which have recently resurrected the old theories of basco-iberism : see this linguistic analysis by French-Galician linguist Hector Iglesias (L’inscription ibérique de San Miguel de Liria et le basco-ibérisme en général).

Catalan-speaking areas

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion (dark hair, ... but there are light individuals), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), straight or convex nose rather parallel to the face, rather close-set eyes, high cheekbones, pointy chin, large jaw
~ (Dinaricized) Atlanto-Mediterranean

This is a very classical pan-Iberian type even though these individuals somehow show strong Catalan affinities when it comes to analyze secondary features such as a rather larger face than usual and more generally a mix of robustness and puffier features. Extreme robust types are illustrated by some males.

Lighter large-faced and dinaromorphic variants are found which are also rather Catalan-looking, nearly Pyrenean (high cheekbones are quite stunning).

Eventually, this Mediterranean-dominated sample also exhibits more classical Mediterranean individuals lacking peculiar ethnic traits but still very typical.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to chestnut hair, from black to green/blue eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, in some cases high-headed, rather puffy nose, strong jaw, close-set eyes
~ (Alpino-)Mediterranean

Such division is a bit artificial : those individuals also mostly fall within the Mediterranean spectrum as they don't strikingly exhibit traits associated with Alpinid types. Strong and robust brachymorphic Catalan types are absent from this sample which is very gracile on average. Nevertheless, a female series show more distant eyes, little noses, ... It doesn't really possess male counterparts.

Final morphotypes :

Zeeland : Zuid-Nederland (The Netherlands)

2010-12-15T21:19:00.002+01:00

The province of Zeeland is a large river delta situated at the mouth of several major rivers. Most of the province lies below sea level and was reclaimed from the sea by inhabitants over time. It used to be the Roman Empire's northernmost border and the ethnic affiliation of local Menapii still is unclear.

Nehalennia is a goddess of the ancient religion known around the province of Zeeland. Her worship dates back at least to the 2nd century BC,and flourished in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. She was possibly a regional goddess, either Celtic or pre-Germanic – sources differ on the culture that first worshipped her. During the Roman Era, her main function appeared to be the protection of travelers, especially seagoing travelers crossing the North Sea.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (medium light hair, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, general robust features, squared-box face, high and broad forehead, little and broad nose that can get concave, deep jaw, wide-set eyes
~ Borreby

A very common type in Northern Europe, it is well representated in this area but not as much as ancient studies could make us believe (Zeeland is allegedly the Netherlands' most brachycephalic area). A variant of this type - noted for a convex nose and more leptomorphism - can be found as well with some leptomorphic individuals announcing Nordid types.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (blonde hair with ash-blonde shades, ...), leptomorphic, general robust features, high forehead, convex nose, large and strong jaw, pointy chin, close-set eyes
~ (Dinaricized) Nordid

Those dinaromorphic individuals remind us of the infamous "horsy" phenotype found in Dutch-speaking Belgium. Women tend to be much less impressive than their male counterparts. Darker types are very Belgian-looking and tend to be rarer as one progresses northwards : some peculiar secondary features include full lips, rather distant eyes, ...

Final morphotypes :

Gotland : Götaland (Sweden)

2010-12-01T20:19:00.003+01:00

The island is the home of the Gutar (the Gotlanders), and sites such as Ajvide show that it has been occupied since prehistory. Early on Gotland became a commercial center and the town of Visby was the most important Hanseatic city in the Baltic Sea.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (from medium brown to blonde hair with ash-blonde shades, ...), leptomorphic, general robust features, high forehead, long face, long and straight nose, large jaw, close-set eyes
~ Nordid

This type, inbetween classical Trønder and East-Nordid types as identified by many authors, is quite typical from Scandinavia and NE Europe. Some individuals exhibit darker features that give them a pseudo-Austrian look in my opinion.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (medium light hair with possible reddish undertones, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, general robust features, squared-box face, high and broad forehead, little and broad nose that can get concave, strongly drawn lines around the oral cavity, deep jaw, wide-set eyes
~ Borreby

This type is quite widespread in Northern Europe and was met a great number of times in many samples. Let's notice that broad snub-tipped noses are quite widespread. Consequently, large-faced people noted for a rather convex or straight - yet still broad - nose can define another series.

Final morphotypes :

North Karelia : Karelia (Finland)

2010-11-25T12:05:00.002+01:00

The ethnic structure of Karelia at the end of the first millennium consisted of Finno-Ugrian tribes. The Finnish Karelians are considered as a regional and cultural sub-group of the ethnic Finns. They speak the eastern or south-eastern dialects of the Finnish language.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (blonde hair with ash-blonde shades, sometimes red shades, ...), leptomorphic, general robust features, high forehead, long and straight nose, large jaw, close-set eyes
~ Nordoid

This type, inbetween classical Trønder and East-Nordid types as identified by many authors, is quite typical from NE Europe. This local variant is very robust though and can get quite large-faced. It's also virtually absent from women. Some individuals are rather Finnish-looking because of some distinct features (a braoder nose, high cheekbones, full lips, slanted eyes, ...). "Darker"-featured individuals of some sort are found as well.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (medium light hair with ash-blonde shades, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, general robust features, squared-box face, high and broad forehead, little and broad nose that can get concave, deep jaw, wide-set - sometimes slanted - eyes
~ Baltid/Lappoid

While some individuals - mostly females - seem to be part of a pretty genetic Northern European variation, other individuals exhibit more striking features seldom seen elsewhere in Europe such as pseudo-slanted eyes. Such features may be more obvious on the following darker-featured individuals : it might hint to a slight actual Asian admixture.

Final morphotypes :

Volyn : Volhynia (Ukraine)

2010-11-22T14:54:00.004+01:00

The Kievan Rus' were founded by the Rus' people, Varangians who first settled around Ladoga and Novgorod, then gradually moved southward eventually reaching Kiev about 880. The Kievan Rus' included the western part of modern Ukraine, Belarus, with larger part of it situated on the territory of modern Russia. According to the Primary Chronicle the Rus' elite initially consisted of Varangians from Scandinavia.

Volhynia is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Western Bug, to the north of Galicia and Podolia. The area has some of the oldest Slavic settlements in Europe. The modern Volyn oblast is made of parts of ancient Volhynia : its capital is Lutsk.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (blonde or red hair, light eyes, ...), leptomorphic, rather leptoprosopic, narrow eyes, long and narrow straight nose, high forehead, large jaw, pointy chin, full lips
~ East Nordid

This well-identified type is common in West Russia and NE Europe : darker types are found as well which have been called "Pontid" by many anthropologists or 'Pontid-Mediterranid" though these people only share a vague ressemblance with Mediterranid types from Western Europe. These dark "East Nordid" types have long been associated with Ukraine.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (from medium dark-brown to blonde hair, blue eyes), brachymorphic, large square-box head, little and distanced oblique eyes, low orbits, broad and rather straight or concave nose, weak browridges, large fronthead, large jaw, receding chin
~ Alpinoid/Baltid

This is a very common type in Eastern Europe. These Ukrainians types might be characterized by a relative abundance of rather convex noses.

Final morphotypes :

Durrës (Albania)

2010-11-21T22:14:00.007+01:00

Durrës was founded as Epidamnos in the ancient region of Illyria in 627 BC by ancient Greek colonists from Corinth and Corcyra. The general vicinity of Epidamus was called Epidamnia. Very little is known about the Illyrians, though a number of them are assumed to have been united by a common Illyrian language. "Illyria" might just be a designation of a roughly defined region of the western Balkans as seen from a Roman perspective, just as Magna Germania is a rough geographic term not delineated by any linguistic or ethnic unity.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (pale skin color, grey/green eyes, chestnut hair, ...), leptomorphic, long face, probably brachycephalic, narrow eyes, long and narrow arched nose, rather receding forehead, lop ears, pointy chin
~ Dinarid

This type is common in the Balkans, : it might constitute a basic "Illyrian" phenotype. Still, these Albanian types are noted for a strong leptoprosopy, at least when it comes to males. A more robust square-jawed variant is found as well :

Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, large head, little and sometimes distanced oblique eyes, low orbits, low-rooted and rather broad nose, weak browridges, large jaw
~ Alpinoid/Gorid

This type is quite original in its rather extreme character and was absent from Korçë which exhibited more classical individuals. Some individuals would fit well in the Caucasus for instance.

Final morphotypes :

León : Castile and León (Spain)

2010-11-06T16:17:00.002+01:00

The city of León was founded by the Roman Seventh Legion (usually written as Legio Septima Gemina ("twin seventh legion"). It was the headquarters of that legion in the late empire and was a centre for trade in gold, which was mined at Las Médulas nearby. In 540, the city was conquered by the Arian Visigothic king Liuvigild, who did not harass the already well-established Roman Catholic population. In 717 AD, León fell again, this time to the Moors. However, León was one of the first cities retaken during the Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, and became part of the Kingdom of Asturias in 742 AD.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion (dark hair, ... but there are light individuals), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), straight or convex nose rather parallel to the face, rather close-set eyes, high cheekbones, pointy chin, large jaw
~ (Dinaricized) Atlanto-Mediterranean

A pan-Iberian type, these individuals nevertheless may show affinities with NW Iberia (Galicia, Asturias, ...) when it comes to secondary features such as the eye region (rather "slanted" eyes on some individuals, big eyebrows, ...) or a general "horsy" silhouette very common in North Portugal for instance. More robust and lighter males are found as well.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to chestnut hair, from black to green/blue eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, in some cases high-headed, rather little nose (on males at least), strong jaw, close-set eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean

Like in neighbouring Luarca, square-shaped variants are quite typical even though they are not as dominant in this sample as they are in Asturian lands. On average, those individuals' complexion is also darker than the Asturians' one (wich showed a strong presence of green/blue eyes, chestnut hair, ...). León is more on par with a classical pan-Iberian variation lacking Asturian puffy features. Let's add that eventually dark dinaromorphic Alpino-Med types are found : in transition with the first type, they are also pan-Iberian.

Final morphotypes :

Vâlcea : Wallachia (Romania)

2010-10-30T18:38:00.004+02:00

The area has been inhabited since Dacian and Roman times, and was the site of a castrum. A new fortress was built on the location during the Middle Ages.

The Dacians, situated north of the lower Danube in the area of the Carpathians and Transylvania, are the earliest named people from the present territory of Romania. They are first mentioned in the writings of Ancient Greeks, in Herodotus (Histories Book IV XCIII - "[Getae] the noblest as well as the most just of all the Thracian tribes").

Wallachia (yellow)

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion, brachymorphic, large head, little and sometimes distanced oblique eyes, low orbits, broad nose, weak browridges, large jaw
~ Alpinoid/Gorid

This type is specific to Eastern Europe transcending modern ethno-linguistic borders. A rather Romanian-looking variant is characterized by a convex nose.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, more or less leptomorphic, probably brachymorphic, narrow eyes, long and narrow straight nose, high forehead, large jaw, double chin
~ Dinarid

Such types are actually quite rare in this area. Conversely, one can find more classical "nose-less" Mediterranoid individuals which look like more leptomorphic variants of individuals from Type 1.

Final morphotypes :

Turin : Piedmont (Italy)

2010-10-29T12:48:00.003+02:00

Piedmont was inhabited in early historic times by Celtic-Ligurian tribes such as the Taurini and the Salassi. They were later submitted by the Romans (c. 220 BC), who founded several colonies there including Augusta Taurinorum (Turin). The Taurini occupied the upper valley of the river Po, in the centre of modern Piedmont.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermedate complexion, dark eyes, leptomorphic, narrow face, long and straight high-rooted nose that can get convex, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ Dinaromorphic Nordo-Mediterranean

This is a classical pan-Italian type. As usual, lighter and more impressive individuals noted for very arched noses can be found.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (aqua-blue eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, square-box face, little low-rooted nose that can get snub-tipped, wide set eyes
~ Alpinoid/Subnordid

Some leptomorphic individuals ("Subnordid") approach Nordic metrics. Striking North Italian secondary features include aqua-blue eyes, rather little eyelids, blonde undertones, ... This type is rarer amongst males who mostly belong to the first type. Eventually, typical "chubby" Alpinoid North Italian women are found.

Final morphotypes :

Caernarfon : Gwynedd (Wales)

2010-10-26T22:21:00.002+02:00

Wales has been inhabited by modern humans for at least 29,000 years. Continuous human habitation dates from the end of the last ice age, between 12,000 and 10,000 years before present (BP), when Mesolithic hunter-gatherers from central Europe began to migrate to Great Britain.

Gwynedd was an independent kingdom from the end of the Roman period until the 13th Century when it was conquered and subjugated by England (for more on this period see Kingdom of Gwynedd).

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (pinky undertones, light blue eyes, blonde hair, ...), leptomorphic, long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, high cheekbones, close-set eyes, rather angular and pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlantid aka "Keltic Nordic"

This type constitutes a basic "Celtic" insular phenotype : I'll soon begin to characterize the main phenotypes one can find in the British Isles. Frailer individuals funnily give me an Irish vibe while robust types are more on par with what one can expect from Wales. Contrary to SW England, leptomorphic darker variants are somehow rare at least amongst males. Dark males actually belong to a brachymorphic type (named "Paleo-Atlantid" in old literature) still exhibiting dinaromorphism though.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (light skin, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, chubby features, rather low-rooted and little broad nose that can get convex, wide forehead, large and strong jaws, prominent chin, wide-set eyes
~ Alpinoid/Brünn

Final morphotypes :

Saaremaa (Estonia)

2010-10-15T21:55:00.004+02:00

The Oeselians (or Osilians) were a historical Finnic people inhabiting Saaremaa (Latin: Oesel or Osilia), an Estonian island in the Baltic Sea. They are first thought to be mentioned as early as the 2nd century BC in Ptolemy's Geography III.

mtDNA studies have revealed that Baltic-Finns and Volga-Finns have the same genetic origins as other Europeans who don't speak Finno-Ugric languages. The Y-chromosomal data has also revealed a common Finno-Ugric ancestry for the males of the neighboring Baltic peoples, speakers of the Indo-European Baltic languages. According to the studies, Baltic males are more closely related to the Finno-Ugric-speaking Volga Finns such as the Mari, than to Baltic Finns.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (blonde hair with ash-blonde shades, sometimes red shades, ...), leptomorphic, general robust features, high forehead, long and straight nose, large jaw, close-set eyes
~ Nordid

This type, inbetween classical Trønder and East-Nordid types as identified by many authors, is quite typical from Scandinavia and NE Europe. Some males are rather Finnish-looking because of some distict features (a concave nose, high cheekbones, full lips, less angular features, ...).

- Type 2 : Light complexion (medium light hair, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, general robust features, squared-box face, high and broad forehead, little and broad nose that can get concave, deep jaw, wide-set eyes
~ Borreby

This type is quite widespread in Northern Europe and seems to be midly prevailing in the island.

Still withing brachymorphic types, some individuals exhibit more "exotic" features which might remind us of Finnish and Sami people : dark stiff hair, a "wavy" concave nose, narrow eyelids, high and prominent cheekbones, ... I don't know how classical anthropology names the following individuals. This type was punctually observed in Svalbard in Norway.

Final morphotypes :

Eurogenes 500,000 SNP BGA Project

2010-10-15T14:01:00.006+02:00

I've decided to advertise Polako's project since I've joined it. Polako aka David W. - a well-known figure of the anthro-related Internet - aims at "analyzing your ancestry in the same way that scientists analyze scientific samples in major peer-reviewed studies". See here for more information.

Eurogenes 500,000 SNP BGA Project

On Polako's plots, I'm FR1 (about my background : "My genetic results").

See : A map of Europe (+ Caucasus)

NB : The French Basque sample is extracted from the "Fondation Jean Dausset", it's also being used by private company 23andme, I've tried to know more about it but I was left unanswered. I suppose that people from Lower Navarre were sampled but that's just my feeling.

Polako is also running K=6 analyzes but he has not officially published his results though on his last West Eurasian run (that excluded the French Basques and the Sardinians who somehow distorted the algorithmic results), my results were the following ones :

FR1

0% Caucasus
36.7% Mediterranean (peaking amongst Med people)
63.3% Western/Northwestern Europe (peaking amongst Orcadians)
0% Middle East
0% East Europe/Central Asia
0% North Africa (peaking amongst Mozabites)

NB : Those results are to be taken with a pinch of salt as defined clusters depend on samples. In other runs, the French Basques were the basis for one cluster (80-99%) on which I scored 70% (French people being around 45%), the remainder of my variation showing affinities with the cluster peaking with Orcadians. On another run with Sardinians included, the Sardinians defined one cluster on which the French Basques scord about 60%. It's eventually just about algorithmic reduction : my own results are very fluctuant depending on which samples are used.

Polako is eventually running very interesting genome-wide comparisons that remain unpublished for the moment (he provides his project's participants with exclusive Excel sheets). Here are my top-10 results :

380K

1. French_Basque 0,750925
2. French_Basque 0,750724
3. French_Basque 0,750425
4. French_Basque 0,749576
5. French_Basque 0,749552
6. French_Basque 0,749528
7. French_Basque 0,749496
8. ES 0,749184
9. French_Basque 0,749165
10. French_Basque 0,749062

520K

1. French_Basque 0,746296
2. French_Basque 0,745259
3. French_Basque 0,744878
4. French_Basque 0,744197
5. French_Basque 0,744027
6. French_Basque 0,743888
7. French_Basque 0,743877
8. French_Basque 0,743755
9. IE3 0,74369
10. ES 0,743607

NB : - ES is an unindentified Spanish individual.
- IE3 is an Irish American.

Stay tuned and visit Polako's weblogs as he updates them.

Carinthia (Slovenia)

2010-10-13T15:39:00.003+02:00

In the 7th century the area was part of the Slavic principality of Carantania, which about 743 fell under the suzerainty of Duke Odilo of Bavaria. Over the centuries, German, which carried more prestige, expanded at the expense of Slovene, but the fact that in the 16th century the Estates of Carinthia could still point out that Carinthia was "a Windic Archduchy", i.e. a sovereign Slovene principality, shows that the Carinthian people were aware of their ancient and pre-German roots.

Following the end of World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the 1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain stipulated the Carinthian Canal Valley stretching from Tarvisio as far as Pontebba go to Italy and that the Slovene-speaking areas of the Meža Valley, the Drava Valley area around Unterdrauburg,which was afterwards renamed Dravograd, and the Jezersko area be ceded to the new SHS-State.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (blonde hair, light eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, a rather large face on some individuals, a convex nose on women and puffy features for men, high cheekbones, close-set eyes, large jaw
~ Nordid/Subnordid

This type was much more dinaromorphic and darker on the Slovenian coast : these individuals are much more on par with Austrian variation. Let's notice a rather striking sexual dimorphism.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to medium blonde hair), brachymorphic, large head, little and distanced oblique eyes, low orbits, rather broad and puffy nose, well drawn oral cavity, full lips, weak browridges, large jaw
~ Alpinid/Gorid

This type is very prevailing amongst males and is rather typically Balkanic/Eastern European. It's virtually absent from neighbouring Austria and Italy which never show such a combination of robust and puffy features.

Final morphotypes :

Malta Island (Malta)

2010-10-10T12:22:00.003+02:00

Pottery found by archeologists at Skorba resembles that found in Italy, and suggests that the Maltese islands were first settled in 5200 BC mainly by stone age hunters or farmers who had arrived from the larger island of Sicily, possibly the Sicani. The Sicani were the only tribe known to have inhabited the island at this time and are generally regarded as related to the Iberians. After 2500 BC, the Maltese Islands were depopulated for several decades until the arrival of a new influx of Bronze Age immigrants, a culture that cremated its dead and introduced smaller megalithic structures called dolmens to Malta.

In a study by Capelli et al. (2005)Y-Dna haplogroups were found at the following frequencies in Malta Island : R1 (35.55% including 32.2% R1b), J (28.90% including 7.80% J1), I (12.20%), E (11.10% including 8.9% E1b1b), F (6.70%), K (4.40%), P (1.10%). J, K, F and E1b1b haplogroups consist of lineages with differential distribution within Middle East, North Africa and Europe while R1 and I are typical in West European populations.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion (dark hair, blue eyes are possible), brachymorphic, broad face, round features, thick browridges , short broad nose, wide-spaced sloping eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean/Berid

Those individuals are rather fascinating : many of them remind us of Sardinian types which might show affinities with some coastal East-Iberian types as well as I'll try to prove later one (I'm thinking of some French Catalan coastal types or Andalusian ones).

- Type 2 : Rather dark complexion (dark hair, rather pale skin though, blue/green eyes, ...), leptomorphic yet rather large face, robust features, long and high-rooted convex nose, close-set eyes, angular and somehow strong chin, large jaws
~ Dinaromorphic Mediterranean

This is a classical pan-Mediterranean type and one very uneasy to precisely describe as belonging to one nation. These individuals might look more specifically Italian on average although phenotypical convergences with Iberia can be found or eventually Greece.

Final morphotypes :

Belluno : Veneto (Italy)

2010-10-08T15:21:00.005+02:00

The most ancient archeological finding in the province is that of Lagole di Calalzo, in Cadore, belonging to a c. 5th century BC sanctuary dedicated to a health god of Paleoveneti. A greater site, a necropolis, has been excavated in the comune of Mel. The name of the city is derived from Celtic belodunum which means "splendid hill".

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (chestnut or blonde hair, light eyes, ...), leptomorphic, rather narrow face, long and straight high-rooted nose that can get arched, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ Dinaromorphic Nordo-Mediterranean

Part of a rather pan-Italian variability, these phenotypes are specifically North Italian due to complexion. Darker pan-Italian individuals are found though some individuals somehow remind us of Croatian Adriatic phenotypes (more particularly males). I'll make a whole article about the Adriatic once I get more samples : this area seems to be quite complex as far as anthropology is concerned.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, round face, little and low-rooted nose that can get snub-tipped, wide set eyes
~ Alpinoid

As far as women are concerned, this type that one could label "Alpino-Med" is very specific to Veneto as we already noticed : puffy and fleshy features are quite striking. More classical Alpinoid/Subnordid male types (fair complexion, little eyes, puffy features, wide-set eyes, ...) are to be found : this type was identified in the whole Adriatic area and amounted for a fair share of phenotypical variation in Croatian Istria as well.

Some larger-faced people show less "puffy" features such as a straight or convex nose.

Final morphotypes :

Palencia : Castile and León (Spain)

2010-09-26T22:24:00.004+02:00

The fortified Celtiberian settlement is mentioned as Pallantia (Παλλαντία) by Strabo and Ptolemy, a version possibly of the Celtic root pala ("plain"). It was the chief town of the Vaccaei, although Strabo wrongly assigns it to the Arevaci. The city was starved into submission by the Romans in the second century BCE and incorporated into the province of Hispania Tarraconensis, in the jurisdiction of Colonia Clunia Sulpicia (modern Clunia).

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from blonde to dark hair, black eyes, rather pale skin on average, ...), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), straight or convex nose, close-set eyes, pointy chin, large jaw
~ (Dinaricized) Atlanto-Mediterranean

This is a very classical Iberian type found throughout the whole peninsula that one could dub "conquistador-looking". A previously identified variant characterized by blue eyes and blondish/reddish undertones as noted in Rioja, Soria or Burgos is rarer here. More classical and larger-faced (Alpino-?)Mediterranoids are found as well. Square jaws seem to be rather widely distributed throughout Old Castile.

- Type 2 : Dark complexion (dark hair, black eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, square-box head, large nose, strong jaw, rather distanced eyes
~ Alpinoid

This type already was already identified in Rioja or Burgos as well and is rather pan-Iberian. Some individuals would fit a "Berid" description.

Final morphotypes :

Vidin : Montana (Bulgaria)

2010-09-24T23:37:00.002+02:00

There are around 80 caves situated close to the border with Serbia, the most famous being the Magura Cave, which known with its cave painting from 10,000 BC. Vidin emerged at the place of an old Celtic settlement known as Dunonia. The name itself meant "fortified hill" with the typically Celtic dun found frequently in Celtic place names. The settlement evolved into an Roman fortified town called Bononia. The town grew into one of the important centres of the province of Upper Moesia, encompassing the territory of modern northwestern Bulgaria and eastern Serbia. Roman rule lasted until 46 AD.

When Slavs settled in the area, they called the town Badin or Bdin, where the modern name comes from.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Rather dark complexion (from dark to medium blonde hair), brachymorphic, large head, little and distanced oblique eyes, low orbits, broad and straight nose, full lips, weak browridges, large jaw, receding chin
~ Alpinid/Gorid

This is a very common type amongst South Slavs and their neighbours. More leptomorphic and Mediterranoid individuals are found as well.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (pale skin color, grey/green eyes, chestnut hair, ...), more or less leptomorphic, long face, probably brachycephalic, narrow eyes, long and arched nose, rather low and receding forehead
~ Dinarid

That is a very common type in the Balkans already identified in other South Slavic lands such as Pelagonia.

Final morphotypes :

Luarca : Asturias (Spain)

2010-09-20T23:06:00.006+02:00

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion (dark hair, ... but light eyes are frequent), leptomorphic, long face (particularly on males), straight or convex nose rather parallel to the face, rather close-set eyes, high cheekbones, pointy chin, large jaw
~ (Dinaricized) Atlanto-Mediterranean

A pan-Iberian type, these individuals nevertheless show affinities with NW Iberia (Galicia, Asturias, ...) when it comes to secondary features such as the eye region (rather "slanted" eyes on some individuals, big eyebrows, ...).

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to chestnut hair, from black to green/blue eyes, ...), more or less brachymorphic, reduced and "puffy" features, in some cases high-headed, rather little nose (on males at least), strong jaw, close-set eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean

Square-shaped variants are quite typical and dominant in this sample. On average, those individuals' complexion is lighter (green/blue eyes, chestnut hair, ...).

Final morphotypes :

Clare : Munster (Ireland)

2010-09-19T22:00:00.002+02:00

There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones. Clare is one of the richest places for these tombs in Ireland, the most noted is in The Burren area, it is known as Poulnabrone dolmen which translates as the hole of sorrows. The remains of the people inside the tomb have been excavated and dated to 3800 BC.

Within his map Ptolemy names the Gaelic tribes inhabiting it and the areas in which they resided; in the area of Clare he identified a tribe known as the Gangani.Historians have found the tribes on the west of Ireland hardest to identify with known peoples, however Camden and O'Conor speculated a possible connection between the Gangani and the Concani, one of the eleven tribes in the confederacy of the Cantabri in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (pinky undertones, light blue eyes, blonde hair, ...), leptomorphic, long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, high cheekbones, close-set eyes, rather angular and pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlantid aka "Keltic Nordic"

This type constitutes a basic "Celtic" insular phenotype : it is not as prevailing as in other Irish counties. Let's add that people belonging to that type are somehow darker on average as well. People from County Clare rather belong to a less leptoprosopic variant (read : larger-faced).

Eventually, some "Atlantid" individuals do show some strong Irish features that are also common on people belonging to Type 2 : defined lines around the oral cavity, a large nose, a deep and clefted lower jaw.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (light skin, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic (yet probably mesocephalic), chubby features, rather low-rooted and little broad nose that can get convex, wide forehead, large and strong jaws, prominent chin, wide-set eyes
~ Brünn

Many individuals do exhibit a typical Irish flavour as well : defined lines around the oral cavity, a large nose, a deep lower jaw, a high forehead, that could be found on individuals belonging to Type 1 which really makes me wonder whether or not classification is that interesting as ethnic traits can be found on all types of individuals.

Final morphotypes :

East Tyrol : Tyrol (Austria)

2010-09-18T00:48:00.005+02:00

Archaeological findings show people settled in the middle alpine region, later to be called Tyrol, when the glaciers retreated and flora and fauna revived, after the last ice age ended around 12,000 BC.

East Tyrol (German: Osttirol), is an exclave of the Austrian state of Tyrol, sharing no border with the main North Tyrol part of the state. The area around the former Roman municipium of Aguntum was from the 12th century held by the Counts of Gorizia, who took their residence at Lienz and inherited the County of Tyrol in 1253.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light, brachymorphic, short and large yet straight nose, square-faced, broad forehead, wide-set eyes, large jaw
~ Alpinoid/Subnordid

This type seems to be quite widespread in the whole Alps, more particularly throughout the German-speaking areas. Some individuals do approach "Nordic" metrics but somehow lack the sharper features found in Type 2 and are characterized by a high forehead.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, more or less brachymorphic, a rather large face on some individuals, convex nose, high cheekbones, close-set eyes, large jaw
~ Dinaromorphic Nordid

All these types were already identified in neighbouring South Tyrol. A darker series can be found as well.

Final morphotypes :

Genoa : Liguria (Italy)

2010-09-01T15:59:00.002+02:00

The Ligurians were an ancient people who gave their name to Liguria, which once stretched from Northern Italy into southern Gaul. It is not known for certain whether they were a pre-Indo-European people akin to Iberians; a separate Indo-European branch with Italic and Celtic affinities; or even a branch of the Celts or Italics. Land occupation is more ancient than Ligurian rule though : in the grottoes of Grimaldi (Ventimille) a skeleton dubbed the "Man of Menton" was excavated dating from 25.000 BC (see this video in French).

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion, dark eyes, leptomorphic, narrow face, long and straight high-rooted nose that can get convex, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ Dinaromorphic Nordo-Mediterranean

This is a classical pan-Italian type, very common in Liguria, Nice and Corsica in France. As usual, lighter individuals (typical Italian aqua-blue eyes, ...) are not rare at all. Arched nose are common.

Larger-faced and more angular individuals are found.

As you can notice, Nordo-Mediterranoid types are outrageously prevailing in Genoa : here's another series noted for a less pronounced dinaromorphic character (a rather straight and puffy nose). Those is a basic Mediterranean phenotype.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, brachymorphic, round face, rather straight nose, wide set eyes
~ Alpino-Mediterranean

Softer-featured brachymorphic individuals are oddities in Genoa. Those very exemples all more or less lean towards Mediterranoid metrics. One has to conclude that typical Alpinoid types found in Imperia and French Provence are virtually absent in this part of Liguria.

Final morphotypes :

Salamanca : Castile and León (Spain)

2010-08-31T15:59:00.003+02:00

Salamanca was founded in the pre-Ancient Rome period by the Vacceos, as one of a pair of forts to defend their territory near the Duero river. The Vaccaei were probably largely of Celtic descent : they often acted in consort with their neighbours, the Celtiberi, suggesting they may have been part of the Celtiberian peoples.The Vaccean civilization was the result of a process of local evolution, importing elements from other cultures, whether by new additions of people or cultural and trading contacts with neighbouring groups. It is also believed that was from these Vaccei that the warlike Arevaci stemmed from around the late 4th Century BC to conquer the eastern meseta.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion (dark hair but rather pale skin), brachymorphic, broad face, round features, short and broad nose, wide-set eyes, wide-spaced sloping and rather chinky eyes
~ Alpinoid

This type was abundantly found in Portuguese and Leonese areas : it would fit a "Berid" definition. It seems to be quite widespread in the whole NW corner of the Iberian peninsula.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion, leptomorphic, narrow "horsy" face, long and straight nose, high cheekbones, a rather broad jaw, close-set eyes, rather narrow eyelids
~ Atlanto-Mediterranean

This is a basic Iberian type. Somehow, these people remind us of "horsy" Portuguese types : the nose is not strongly convex and is rather "puffy", the hair is rather light, traits are angular (a feature found in Valladolid as well) ... Another series, totally pan-Iberian :

Final morphotypes :

Western Pomerania : Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Germany)

2010-08-27T23:55:00.003+02:00

In prehistoric times, the area was inhabited by megalith cultures. In the first half of the first millennium, the East Germanic Rugians are reported in the area, who are known to later set up a kingdom far South in Pannonia in the 5th century. By the 6th and 7th century, West Slavic people populated the region. If they met a substantial Rugian population and whether and/or how these were assimilated by the Slavs is not known.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (from medium brown to blonde hair with rufosity, blue eyes, ...), leptomorphic, general robust features, high forehead, long face, straight and rather wavy nose, large jaw, close-set eyes
~ Nordid

This type, hesitating inbetween classical Trønder and Halstatt types as identified by many authors, is quite typical from North Germany.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (medium light hair with possible reddish undertones, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, general robust features, squared-box face, high and broad forehead, little and broad nose that can get concave, strongly drawn lines around the oral cavity, rather full lips deep jaw, wide-set eyes
~ Borreby/Subnordid

This type is quite widespread in Northern Europe. Funnily enough, it is very prevailing amongst men and rarer amongst women contrary to other German areas. Note that such sexual dimorphism was also noted amongst other Baltic people such as the Polish people for instance. A dinaromorphic variant of that type somehow reminds us of South German and Austrian types.

Final morphotypes :

Braga : Minho (Portugal)

2010-08-25T18:20:00.004+02:00

The region of Braga has been inhabited since pre-historic times, and in the Iron Age the Bracari people occupied the region and built their characteristic fortified villages (castrum). It was the capital of the Callaici Bracarii, or Bracarenses, a tribe who occupied what is now Galicia and northern Portugal. It has been long known that they spoke a Celtic language, as can be seen in the inscription dedicated to the goddess Nabia at Braga's Fonte do Ídolo, or in the name of their town Tongobriga.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Dark complexion, leptomorphic, gracile general features, narrow "horsy" face, long and narrow nose, high cheekbones, a rather broad jaw, close-set eyes, rather narrow eyelids
~ Nordo-Mediterranoid

This type was already identified in other Portuguese areas. It is quite prevailing amongst women as well albeit within a lighter spectrum as usual in North Portugal.

- Type 2 : Dark complexion (dark hair but rather pale skin), brachymorphic, broad face, round features, short and broad nose, wide-set eyes, from dark to light eyes ("green-blue")
~ Alpinoid

This type was previously identified in Portuguese Alto Douro. It's much rare here and surprisingly enough, a very Portuguese-looking variant characterized by wide-spaced sloping eyes, a short broad nose and thick browridges (this type would fit a "Berid" definition) is absent from this sample. Lighter individuals are found as well.

Final morphotypes :

Neuchâtel : Romandy (Switzerland)

2010-08-23T21:53:00.004+02:00

The "La Tène" culture was a European Iron Age culture named after the archaeological site of La Tène on the north side of Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland, where a rich trove of artifacts was discovered by Hansli Kopp in 1857. Yet, Neuchâtel had been inhabited since the 6th century BC near Le Locle. Later in the Bronze Age around 1.7000BC humans colonized the shores of Lake Neuchâtel where later the La Tène culture would emerge.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (aqua-blue eyes, dark blonde hair, ...), brachymorphic, little and concave nose, square-box face, broad forehead, wide-set eyes, large jaw
~ Alpinoid/Subnordid

Unsurprisingly enough, the area is home to classical Alpine types abundantly found in the Rhône valley in France.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (from blonde to chestnut hair, light eyes, ...), more or less leptomorphic, straight or convex nose, high cheekbones, strong jaw, close-set eyes
~ Nordoid

Many individuals indeed approach Nordo-Mediterranean metrics. Still, very "Germanic-looking" individuals (angular features, rather distanced eyes, snub-tipped and wavy nose, ...) are more of an oddity here, which is a sharp contrast with Upper Wallis. It appears quite clear that this area shares links with the Rhône valley in France and its archetypal Noric types. The fair presence of darker and rather dinaromorphic Mediterranoid types confirms that Neuchâtel somehow differs from Germanic Switzerland (not that drastically though : more samples are needed).

Final morphotypes :

Leghorn : Tuscany (Italy)

2010-08-20T14:22:00.003+02:00

Known as Leghorn in English, the Tuscan town of Livorno used to be the natural port of Pisa for trade with the Mediterranean islands. The area has been inhabited since Paleolithic times. Yet Populonia, known as Fufluna in Etruscan, was the only main town of Etruria on the coast.

The origins of the Etruscans are lost in prehistory. The main hypotheses are that they are indigenous, probably stemming from the Villanovan culture (an earliest Iron Age culture of central and northern Italy, abruptly following the Bronze Age Terramare culture), or that they are the result of invasion from the north or the Near East. Etruscan expansion was focused both to the north beyond the Apennines and into Campania.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Rather intermdeiate complexion (dark hair, yet light eyes, ...), leptomorphic, narrow face, long and straight high-rooted nose that can get convex, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ Dinaromorphic Mediterranean

A pan-Italian type, it is nevertheless dominated by a puffier and less dinaromorphic Mediterranean variant more particularly around the nose area which possesses a large basis. Blue eyes are a common feature. Note that sexual dimorphism - a stunning Tuscan feature - is absent from this sample.

- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (from brown to aqua-blue eyes, ...), brachymorphic, round face, chubby features, little straight nose, a large jaw on females, rather close-set eyes
~ Alpino(-Mediterranean)

This type is mostly feminine. Let's note that "exotic" types found in inland Tuscany - characterized by a very large face and jaw, a broad yet straight nose, dark features, narrow eyelids - are an oddity here, particularly amongst males. Conversely, a dinaromorphic square-faced variant - rather in a Mediterranean variation - is very abundant.

Final morphotypes :

Bremen : Lower Saxony (Germany)

2010-08-19T21:35:00.005+02:00

In 150 AD the geographer Ptolemy described Fabiranum or Phabiranum, known today as Bremen. At that time the Chauci lived in the area now called northwestern Germany or Lower Saxony. By the end of the 3rd century, they had merged with the Saxons. During the Saxon Wars (772-804) the Saxons, led by Widukind, fought against the West Germanic Franks, the founders of the Carolingian Empire and lost the war.

Sample :

Full scale

Brief anthropological analysis :

- Type 1 : Light complexion (from medium brown to blonde hair with rufosity, blue eyes, ...), leptomorphic, general robust features, high forehead, long face, straight and rather wavy nose, large jaw, close-set eyes
~ Nordid

This type, hesitating inbetween classical Trønder and Halstatt types as identified by many authors, is quite typical from North Germany. A darker variant can be found which is maybe more pan-Germanic (similar types are found as far south as Austria).

Eventually, more brachymorphic individuals are found fitting in a rather large Subnordid category that links Nordoid types with the second type. Rufosity is abundant and noses are generally convex.

- Type 2 : Light complexion (medium light hair with possible reddish undertones, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic, general robust features, squared-box face, high and broad forehead, little and broad nose that can get concave, strongly drawn lines around the oral cavity, rather full lips deep jaw, wide-set eyes
~ Borreby

This type is quite widespread in Northern Europe. It is very prevailing amongst women. This very type might be a great source of differenciation between Northern Germany and Southern Germany.

Final morphotypes :