Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland

The apparent result of Sykes' study is that the underlying genetics of the Isles is Celtic through all of the regions: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. This may not make Sykes popular with some people. The old stereotypes do not hold up. In this work, Sykes continues to use the names for the founders of the haplogroups that he created in "The Seven Daughters of Eve" but he does not list all of the standard equivalents. You cannot tell the players without a scorecard. However, I have found the answer on the web. For yDNA: R1b, Oisin; R1a, Sigurd; I, Wodan; E3b, Eshu; J, Re. For mDNA: J, Jasmine; T, Tara; H, Helena; K, Katrina; U, Ursala; V, Velda; X, Xenia. The Isles were the subject of waves of invasion from Romans, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans among others. One of the results of Sykes work is that two of the best known invaders left very little genetic trace. Sykes could find virtually no evidence of Roman DNA. Where was Titus Pullo? The Normans also left very little genetic evidence. It came as no surprise to me that my own Eshu or E3b yDNA was not significant, comprising a scattered percent or two. My E3b haplogroup is found mostly in the region of the warm and sunny Mediterranean, not the wet and cold Isles.

If you're interested in the genetics behind Britain, Ireland and America, then Saxons, Vikings and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland is for you. It represents the first scientific, DNA-based history of the peoples of the British isles and as such stands well apart from your usual treatment of the topic. Discussions are well grounded in DNA science and make this a top pick not just for history holdings, but for any college-level and public library strong in genetic science. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

This is a review of an exciting new book by Bryan Sykes: SAXONS, VIKINGS, AND CELTS The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland, W.W. Norton & Co., 2006, 306 pages. Mr. Sykes is professor of human genetics at Oxford University and the first to discover how to recover DNA from human remains thousands of years old. His book is a result of a ten-year survey of more than 10,000 volunteers from all across the islands and into America tracing the genetic make-up of the British Isles. In setting the stage for his findings Bryan Sykes takes us though a storied historical travelogue of the Isles. From the Shetlands to the Southwest of England; he offers accounts on the first inhabitants through the migrations to the invasions and conquests. I start with this feature because it is what held me to the book long after a couple of bed-times. He presents the science of genetics in very understandable terms. He explains mitochondrial DNA, the Y-chromosome, markers, mutation and other terms that helped me understand the science of genetics especially relative to genealogy. I was thrilled to learn that blood type O is 80% dominant in the far west of Ireland where my family lived. I have type O and that made me feel even more connected. Of interest also is where type O is also dominant. Find out for yourself in this great read. Celtic Ken

Bryan Sykes writes about an esoteric subject for the layperson and this book is a prime example. It is an easy read, even for those with little acquaintance with biological science. I can recommend this book to anyone interested in what genetics can tell us about our ancestral past. For me, definitely 5 stars.

Dr. Bryan Sykes has done more than any other scientist to introduce and make popular the science of DNA genetic research to the general public. Saxons, Vikings, and Celts builds on his earlier books The Seven Daughters of Eve and Adam's Curse, covering some of the same ground with particular attention to the ancestry of the inhabitants of the British Isles. Sykes' strong point is his ability to recreate and make real the lives of our distant genetic ancestors. He has assigned representative names to the founders of the various paternal and maternal line clans from which all present day humans are descended. These names help his readers to better realize the humanity of their distant progenitors. I've had my DNA tested at Dr. Sykes' lab and at others as well, and I enjoy thinking of myself as a member of the Tara and Oisin clans much more than as a mere T2 or R1b1c! Dr. Sykes provides a short history of each part of the Isles: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. He summarizes his research, including some fascinating stories about how he goes about collecting the data and DNA samples, so that we get a better idea of the genetic makeup of the original British population. That makeup turns out to be much more complex than the old histories would have us believe, yet also shows that some of the oldest legends have at least a hint of the real truth about them. For example, the old stories of the British originally coming from the lands around the Mediterranean turn out not to be all that far off. My only objection to Dr. Sykes' book, and it only applies to those like me who have had their DNA tested at labs other than his, is that he doesn't clearly identify the clans by the scientific names other labs use. This isn't a problem if you, like me, are one of the ubiquitous Oisins or R1bs, but it can be a little confusing to know what he means by Wodan and Sigurd. But that is only a difficulty for a relatively small number of people, and Dr. Sykes' work does a superb job of demonstrating the great promise and insights of DNA research