Robert Kar
Tue, Jun-19-07, 06:20
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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Ancient Etruscans were immigrants from Anatolia, or what is
now Turkey Geneticists find the final piece in the puzzle
Nice, France: The long-running controversy about the origins
of the = Etruscan people appears to be very close to being
settled once and for = all, a geneticist will tell the annual
conference of the European = Society of Human Genetics today.
Professor Alberto Piazza, from the = University of Turin,
Italy, will say that there is overwhelming evidence = that the
Etruscans, whose brilliant civilisation flourished 3000 years
= ago in what is now Tuscany, were settlers from old Anatolia
(now in = southern Turkey).=20
Etruscan culture was very advanced and quite different from
other known = Italian cultures that flourished at the same
time, and highly = influential in the development of Roman
civilisation. Its origins have = been debated by
archaeologists, historians and linguists since time =
immemorial. Three main theories have emerged: that the
Etruscans came = from Anatolia, Southern Turkey, as propounded
by the Greek historian = Herotodus; that they were indigenous
to the region and developed from = the Iron Age Villanovan
society, as suggested by another Greek = historian, Dionysius
of Halicarnassus; or that they originated from = Northern
Europe.=20
Now modern genetic techniques have given scientists the tools
to answer = this puzzle. Professor Piazza and his colleagues
set out to study = genetic samples from three present-day
Italian populations living in = Murlo, Volterra, and Casentino
in Tuscany, central Italy. "We already = knew that people
living in this area were genetically different from = those in
the surrounding regions", he says. "Murlo and Volterra are =
among the most archaeologically important Etruscan sites in a
region of = Tuscany also known for having Etruscan-derived
place names and local = dialects. The Casentino valley sample
was taken from an area bordering = the area where Etruscan
influence has been preserved."
The scientists compared DNA samples taken from healthy males
living in = Tuscany, Northern Italy, the Southern Balkans, the
island of Lemnos in = Greece, and the Italian islands of
Sicily and Sardinia. The Tuscan = samples were taken from
individuals who had lived in the area for at = least three
generations, and were selected on the basis of their =
surnames, which were required to have a geographical
distribution not = extending beyond the linguistic area of
sampling. The samples were = compared with data from modern
Turkish, South Italian, European and = Middle-Eastern
populations.
"We found that the DNA samples from individuals from Murlo and
Volterra = were more closely related those from near Eastern
people than those of = the other Italian samples", says
Professor Piazza. "In Murlo = particularly, one genetic
variant is shared only by people from Turkey, = and, of the
samples we obtained, the Tuscan ones also show the closest =
affinity with those from Lemnos."
Scientists had previously shown this same relationship for
mitochondrial = DNA (mtDNA) in order to analyse female
lineages. And in a further study, = analysis of mtDNA of
ancient breeds of cattle still living in the former = Etruria
found that they too were related to breeds currently living in
= the near East.=20
The history of the Etruscans extends before the Iron Age to
the end of = the Roman Republic or from c. 1200 BC to c. 100BC
Many archaeological = sites of the major Etruscan cities were
continuously occupied since the = Iron Age, and the people who
lived in the Etruria region did not appear = suddenly, nor did
they suddenly start to speak Etruscan. Rather they = learned
to write from their Greek neighbours and thus revealed their =
language. Archaeologists and linguists are in agreement that
the = Etruscans had been developing their culture and language
in situ before = the first historical record of their
existence.
"But the question that remained to be answered was - how long
was this = process between pre-history and history"" says
Professor Piazza. In 1885 = a stele carrying an inscription
in a pre-Greek language was found on the = island of Lemnos,
and dated to about the 6th century BC. Philologists = agree
that this has many similarities with the Etruscan language
both in = its form and structure and its vocabulary. But
genetic links between the = two regions have been difficult
to find until now.
Herodotus' theory, much criticised by subsequent historians,
states that = the Etruscans emigrated from the ancient region
of Lydia, on what is now = the southern coast of Turkey,
because of a long-running famine. Half the = population was
sent by the king to look for a better life elsewhere, = says
his account, and sailed from Smyrna (now Izmir) until they
reached = Umbria in Italy.
"We think that our research provides convincing proof that
Herodotus was = right", says Professor Piazza, "and that the
Etruscans did indeed arrive = from ancient Lydia. However, to
be 100% certain we intend to sample = other villages in
Tuscany, and also to test whether there is a genetic =
continuity between the ancient Etruscans and modern-day
Tuscans. This = will have to be done by extracting DNA from
fossils; this has been tried = before but the technique for
doing so has proved to be very difficult."
"Interestingly, this study of historical origins will give us
some = pointers for carrying out case-control studies of
disease today," says = Professor Piazza. "In order to obtain a
reliable result, we had to = select the control population
much more carefully that would normally be = done, and we
believe that this kind of careful selection would also help =
in studies of complex genetic diseases."
Source: European Society of Human Genetics http://www.eurekal-
ert.org/pub_releases/2007-06/esoh-aew061307.php
--=20 Posted by Robert Karl Stonjek
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<STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY>
<DIV><H1 class=3Dtitle><FONT size=3D5>Ancient Etruscans were
immigrants from = Anatolia, or=20 what is now
Turkey</FONT></H1> <H2 class=3Dsubtitle><FONT
size=3D4>Geneticists find the final piece in = the=20
puzzle</FONT></H2>
<DIW>Nice, France: The long-running controversy about the
origins of the = Etruscan=20 people appears to be very
close to being settled once and for all, a =
geneticist=20 will tell the annual conference of the
European Society of Human = Genetics today.=20 Professor
Alberto Piazza, from the University of Turin, Italy,
will say = that=20 there is overwhelming evidence that
the Etruscans, whose brilliant = civilisation=20
flourished 3000 years ago in what is now Tuscany, were
settlers from old =
Anatolia (now in southern Turkey).=20
<DIX>Etruscan culture was very advanced and quite different
from other = known=20 Italian cultures that flourished at
the same time, and highly = influential in the=20
development of Roman civilisation. Its origins have been
debated by=20 archaeologists, historians and linguists
since time immemorial. Three = main=20 theories have
emerged: that the Etruscans came from Anatolia, Southern
= Turkey,=20 as propounded by the Greek historian
Herotodus; that they were = indigenous to the=20 region
and developed from the Iron Age Villanovan society, as
suggested = by=20 another Greek historian, Dionysius of
Halicarnassus; or that they = originated=20 from Northern
Europe.=20
<DIY>Now modern genetic techniques have given scientists the
tools to = answer this=20 puzzle. Professor Piazza and
his colleagues set out to study genetic = samples=20 from
three present-day Italian populations living in Murlo,
Volterra, = and=20 Casentino in Tuscany, central Italy.
=93We already knew that people = living in this=20 area
were genetically different from those in the surrounding
= regions=94, he says.=20
=93Murlo and Volterra are among the most archaeologically
=important =
Etruscan sites=20 in a region of Tuscany also known for having
Etruscan-derived place = names and=20 local dialects. The
Casentino valley sample was taken from an area = bordering
the=20 area where Etruscan influence has been
preserved.=94</P>
<DIZ>The scientists compared DNA samples taken from healthy
males living = in=20 Tuscany, Northern Italy, the
Southern Balkans, the island of Lemnos in = Greece,=20
and the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The
Tuscan samples were = taken=20 from individuals who had
lived in the area for at least three = generations,
and=20 were selected on the basis of their surnames,
which were required to = have a=20 geographical
distribution not extending beyond the linguistic area of
= sampling.=20 The samples were compared with data from
modern Turkish, South Italian, = European=20 and
Middle-Eastern populations.</P>
<DIZ>=93We found that the DNA samples from individuals from
Murlo and = Volterra were=20 more closely related those
from near Eastern people than those of the = other=20
Italian samples=94, says Professor Piazza. =93In Murlo
particularly, one = genetic=20 variant is shared only by
people from Turkey, and, of the samples we = obtained,=20
the Tuscan ones also show the closest affinity with those
from = Lemnos.=94</P>
<DIZ>Scientists had previously shown this same relationship
for = mitochondrial DNA=20 (mtDNA) in order to analyse
female lineages. And in a further study, = analysis of=20
mtDNA of ancient breeds of cattle still living in the
former Etruria = found that=20 they too were related to
breeds currently living in the near East. </P>
<DIZ>The history of the Etruscans extends before the Iron Age
to the end = of the=20 Roman Republic or from c. 1200 BC
to c. 100BC Many archaeological sites = of the=20 major
Etruscan cities were continuously occupied since the Iron
Age, and = the=20 people who lived in the Etruria region
did not appear suddenly, nor did = they=20 suddenly start
to speak Etruscan. Rather they learned to write from =
their Greek=20 neighbours and thus revealed their
language. Archaeologists and = linguists are in=20
agreement that the Etruscans had been developing their
culture and = language in=20 situ before the first
historical record of their existence.</P>
<DIZ>=93But the question that remained to be answered was =96
how long was = this=20 process between pre-history and
history"=94 says Professor Piazza. In = 1885 a stele=20
carrying an inscription in a pre-Greek language was found
on the island = of=20 Lemnos, and dated to about the 6th
century BC. Philologists agree that = this has=20 many
similarities with the Etruscan language both in its form
and = structure and=20 its vocabulary. But genetic links
between the two regions have been = difficult to=20 find
until now.</P>
<DIZ>Herodotus=92 theory, much criticised by subsequent
historians, states = that the=20 Etruscans emigrated from
the ancient region of Lydia, on what is now the =
southern coast of Turkey, because of a long-running famine.
Half the = population=20 was sent by the king to look for a
better life elsewhere, says his = account, and=20 sailed from
Smyrna (now Izmir) until they reached Umbria in Italy.</P>
<DIZ>=93We think that our research provides convincing proof
that = Herodotus was=20 right=94, says Professor Piazza,
=93and that the Etruscans did indeed = arrive from=20
ancient Lydia. However, to be 100% certain we intend to
sample other = villages in=20 Tuscany, and also to test
whether there is a genetic continuity between = the=20
ancient Etruscans and modern-day Tuscans. This will have
to be done by=20 extracting DNA from fossils; this has
been tried before but the = technique for=20 doing so has
proved to be very difficult.=94</P>
<DIZ>=93Interestingly, this study of historical origins will
give us some = pointers=20 for carrying out case-control
studies of disease today,=94 says = Professor Piazza.=20
=93In order to obtain a reliable result, we had to select the
=control =
population=20 much more carefully that would normally be done,
and we believe that = this kind=20 of careful selection would
also help in studies of complex genetic=20 diseases.=94</P>
<DIZ>Source: European Society of Human Genetics<BR><A=20 href-
=3D"http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-06/esoh--
aew061307.php= ">http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/-
2007-06/esoh-aew061307.php</A></=
P>
<DIZ><BR>-- <BR>Posted by<BR>Robert Karl
Stonjek</P></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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quoted-printable
Ancient Etruscans were immigrants from Anatolia, or what is
now Turkey Geneticists find the final piece in the puzzle
Nice, France: The long-running controversy about the origins
of the = Etruscan people appears to be very close to being
settled once and for = all, a geneticist will tell the annual
conference of the European = Society of Human Genetics today.
Professor Alberto Piazza, from the = University of Turin,
Italy, will say that there is overwhelming evidence = that the
Etruscans, whose brilliant civilisation flourished 3000 years
= ago in what is now Tuscany, were settlers from old Anatolia
(now in = southern Turkey).=20
Etruscan culture was very advanced and quite different from
other known = Italian cultures that flourished at the same
time, and highly = influential in the development of Roman
civilisation. Its origins have = been debated by
archaeologists, historians and linguists since time =
immemorial. Three main theories have emerged: that the
Etruscans came = from Anatolia, Southern Turkey, as propounded
by the Greek historian = Herotodus; that they were indigenous
to the region and developed from = the Iron Age Villanovan
society, as suggested by another Greek = historian, Dionysius
of Halicarnassus; or that they originated from = Northern
Europe.=20
Now modern genetic techniques have given scientists the tools
to answer = this puzzle. Professor Piazza and his colleagues
set out to study = genetic samples from three present-day
Italian populations living in = Murlo, Volterra, and Casentino
in Tuscany, central Italy. "We already = knew that people
living in this area were genetically different from = those in
the surrounding regions", he says. "Murlo and Volterra are =
among the most archaeologically important Etruscan sites in a
region of = Tuscany also known for having Etruscan-derived
place names and local = dialects. The Casentino valley sample
was taken from an area bordering = the area where Etruscan
influence has been preserved."
The scientists compared DNA samples taken from healthy males
living in = Tuscany, Northern Italy, the Southern Balkans, the
island of Lemnos in = Greece, and the Italian islands of
Sicily and Sardinia. The Tuscan = samples were taken from
individuals who had lived in the area for at = least three
generations, and were selected on the basis of their =
surnames, which were required to have a geographical
distribution not = extending beyond the linguistic area of
sampling. The samples were = compared with data from modern
Turkish, South Italian, European and = Middle-Eastern
populations.
"We found that the DNA samples from individuals from Murlo and
Volterra = were more closely related those from near Eastern
people than those of = the other Italian samples", says
Professor Piazza. "In Murlo = particularly, one genetic
variant is shared only by people from Turkey, = and, of the
samples we obtained, the Tuscan ones also show the closest =
affinity with those from Lemnos."
Scientists had previously shown this same relationship for
mitochondrial = DNA (mtDNA) in order to analyse female
lineages. And in a further study, = analysis of mtDNA of
ancient breeds of cattle still living in the former = Etruria
found that they too were related to breeds currently living in
= the near East.=20
The history of the Etruscans extends before the Iron Age to
the end of = the Roman Republic or from c. 1200 BC to c. 100BC
Many archaeological = sites of the major Etruscan cities were
continuously occupied since the = Iron Age, and the people who
lived in the Etruria region did not appear = suddenly, nor did
they suddenly start to speak Etruscan. Rather they = learned
to write from their Greek neighbours and thus revealed their =
language. Archaeologists and linguists are in agreement that
the = Etruscans had been developing their culture and language
in situ before = the first historical record of their
existence.
"But the question that remained to be answered was - how long
was this = process between pre-history and history"" says
Professor Piazza. In 1885 = a stele carrying an inscription
in a pre-Greek language was found on the = island of Lemnos,
and dated to about the 6th century BC. Philologists = agree
that this has many similarities with the Etruscan language
both in = its form and structure and its vocabulary. But
genetic links between the = two regions have been difficult
to find until now.
Herodotus' theory, much criticised by subsequent historians,
states that = the Etruscans emigrated from the ancient region
of Lydia, on what is now = the southern coast of Turkey,
because of a long-running famine. Half the = population was
sent by the king to look for a better life elsewhere, = says
his account, and sailed from Smyrna (now Izmir) until they
reached = Umbria in Italy.
"We think that our research provides convincing proof that
Herodotus was = right", says Professor Piazza, "and that the
Etruscans did indeed arrive = from ancient Lydia. However, to
be 100% certain we intend to sample = other villages in
Tuscany, and also to test whether there is a genetic =
continuity between the ancient Etruscans and modern-day
Tuscans. This = will have to be done by extracting DNA from
fossils; this has been tried = before but the technique for
doing so has proved to be very difficult."
"Interestingly, this study of historical origins will give us
some = pointers for carrying out case-control studies of
disease today," says = Professor Piazza. "In order to obtain a
reliable result, we had to = select the control population
much more carefully that would normally be = done, and we
believe that this kind of careful selection would also help =
in studies of complex genetic diseases."
Source: European Society of Human Genetics http://www.eurekal-
ert.org/pub_releases/2007-06/esoh-aew061307.php
--=20 Posted by Robert Karl Stonjek
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<HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type
content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1"> <META
content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.3790.1218" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY>
<DIV><H1 class=3Dtitle><FONT size=3D5>Ancient Etruscans were
immigrants from = Anatolia, or=20 what is now
Turkey</FONT></H1> <H2 class=3Dsubtitle><FONT
size=3D4>Geneticists find the final piece in = the=20
puzzle</FONT></H2>
<DIW>Nice, France: The long-running controversy about the
origins of the = Etruscan=20 people appears to be very
close to being settled once and for all, a =
geneticist=20 will tell the annual conference of the
European Society of Human = Genetics today.=20 Professor
Alberto Piazza, from the University of Turin, Italy,
will say = that=20 there is overwhelming evidence that
the Etruscans, whose brilliant = civilisation=20
flourished 3000 years ago in what is now Tuscany, were
settlers from old =
Anatolia (now in southern Turkey).=20
<DIX>Etruscan culture was very advanced and quite different
from other = known=20 Italian cultures that flourished at
the same time, and highly = influential in the=20
development of Roman civilisation. Its origins have been
debated by=20 archaeologists, historians and linguists
since time immemorial. Three = main=20 theories have
emerged: that the Etruscans came from Anatolia, Southern
= Turkey,=20 as propounded by the Greek historian
Herotodus; that they were = indigenous to the=20 region
and developed from the Iron Age Villanovan society, as
suggested = by=20 another Greek historian, Dionysius of
Halicarnassus; or that they = originated=20 from Northern
Europe.=20
<DIY>Now modern genetic techniques have given scientists the
tools to = answer this=20 puzzle. Professor Piazza and
his colleagues set out to study genetic = samples=20 from
three present-day Italian populations living in Murlo,
Volterra, = and=20 Casentino in Tuscany, central Italy.
=93We already knew that people = living in this=20 area
were genetically different from those in the surrounding
= regions=94, he says.=20
=93Murlo and Volterra are among the most archaeologically
=important =
Etruscan sites=20 in a region of Tuscany also known for having
Etruscan-derived place = names and=20 local dialects. The
Casentino valley sample was taken from an area = bordering
the=20 area where Etruscan influence has been
preserved.=94</P>
<DIZ>The scientists compared DNA samples taken from healthy
males living = in=20 Tuscany, Northern Italy, the
Southern Balkans, the island of Lemnos in = Greece,=20
and the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The
Tuscan samples were = taken=20 from individuals who had
lived in the area for at least three = generations,
and=20 were selected on the basis of their surnames,
which were required to = have a=20 geographical
distribution not extending beyond the linguistic area of
= sampling.=20 The samples were compared with data from
modern Turkish, South Italian, = European=20 and
Middle-Eastern populations.</P>
<DIZ>=93We found that the DNA samples from individuals from
Murlo and = Volterra were=20 more closely related those
from near Eastern people than those of the = other=20
Italian samples=94, says Professor Piazza. =93In Murlo
particularly, one = genetic=20 variant is shared only by
people from Turkey, and, of the samples we = obtained,=20
the Tuscan ones also show the closest affinity with those
from = Lemnos.=94</P>
<DIZ>Scientists had previously shown this same relationship
for = mitochondrial DNA=20 (mtDNA) in order to analyse
female lineages. And in a further study, = analysis of=20
mtDNA of ancient breeds of cattle still living in the
former Etruria = found that=20 they too were related to
breeds currently living in the near East. </P>
<DIZ>The history of the Etruscans extends before the Iron Age
to the end = of the=20 Roman Republic or from c. 1200 BC
to c. 100BC Many archaeological sites = of the=20 major
Etruscan cities were continuously occupied since the Iron
Age, and = the=20 people who lived in the Etruria region
did not appear suddenly, nor did = they=20 suddenly start
to speak Etruscan. Rather they learned to write from =
their Greek=20 neighbours and thus revealed their
language. Archaeologists and = linguists are in=20
agreement that the Etruscans had been developing their
culture and = language in=20 situ before the first
historical record of their existence.</P>
<DIZ>=93But the question that remained to be answered was =96
how long was = this=20 process between pre-history and
history"=94 says Professor Piazza. In = 1885 a stele=20
carrying an inscription in a pre-Greek language was found
on the island = of=20 Lemnos, and dated to about the 6th
century BC. Philologists agree that = this has=20 many
similarities with the Etruscan language both in its form
and = structure and=20 its vocabulary. But genetic links
between the two regions have been = difficult to=20 find
until now.</P>
<DIZ>Herodotus=92 theory, much criticised by subsequent
historians, states = that the=20 Etruscans emigrated from
the ancient region of Lydia, on what is now the =
southern coast of Turkey, because of a long-running famine.
Half the = population=20 was sent by the king to look for a
better life elsewhere, says his = account, and=20 sailed from
Smyrna (now Izmir) until they reached Umbria in Italy.</P>
<DIZ>=93We think that our research provides convincing proof
that = Herodotus was=20 right=94, says Professor Piazza,
=93and that the Etruscans did indeed = arrive from=20
ancient Lydia. However, to be 100% certain we intend to
sample other = villages in=20 Tuscany, and also to test
whether there is a genetic continuity between = the=20
ancient Etruscans and modern-day Tuscans. This will have
to be done by=20 extracting DNA from fossils; this has
been tried before but the = technique for=20 doing so has
proved to be very difficult.=94</P>
<DIZ>=93Interestingly, this study of historical origins will
give us some = pointers=20 for carrying out case-control
studies of disease today,=94 says = Professor Piazza.=20
=93In order to obtain a reliable result, we had to select the
=control =
population=20 much more carefully that would normally be done,
and we believe that = this kind=20 of careful selection would
also help in studies of complex genetic=20 diseases.=94</P>
<DIZ>Source: European Society of Human Genetics<BR><A=20 href-
=3D"http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-06/esoh--
aew061307.php= ">http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/-
2007-06/esoh-aew061307.php</A></=
P>
<DIZ><BR>-- <BR>Posted by<BR>Robert Karl
Stonjek</P></DIV></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0093_01C7B0F4.C8FD49E0--