The latest research techniques have allowed archaeologists to isolate DNA from the tooth pulp of a young Saxon man and he was found to possess a genetic marker from the Romani people - the earliest evidence for their presence anywhere in the UK.
The plaque reads:
Romani DNA
A skeleton discovered during excavations of an 11th century graveyard near this spot has been found to have a mitochondrial DNA marker unique to the Romani people. This is the earliest evidence for a person of Romani descent in the British Isles, and is 400 years earlier than any documentary reference to their presence.
Amazing what they can find out from all these tests on bones and teeth and that must be one of very few blue plaques that doesn't have a named person on it. Fascinating:)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it is that gradually, piece by piece, we begin to unravel our past.
ReplyDeleteAwesome. You gotta love science and history when they make discoveries like this!
ReplyDeleteFascinating stuff. I'd be intrigued to know my genetic inheritance. I've long thought that we are all hybrids (most of us in the UK are related anyway) and the differences between people are cultural. I think Bronwyn is right - this amazing mix of science and history!
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