Ancestral Journeys: The Peopling of Europe from the First Venturers to the Vikings (Revised and Updated Edition)

Ideas about European ancestors are being transformed through archaeology, linguistics and the new genetic revolution. 'Ancestral Journeys' skilfully weaves these multiple strands to produce a startling new history of Europe. It will be of compelling interest to those who want to trace their ancestry through DNA and understand what the results mean. The fast-paced narrative is illustrated with specially commissioned maps and diagrams, as well as photographs and drawings, showing the movements of people, the spread of languages and DNA distributions. Unprecedented in the scope of its research, this paradigm-shifting, highly readable book challenges our established ways of looking at Europe's past and its people. The discovery of ancient DNA provides evidence that the European gene pool was stirred many times. Clues are also enhancing our understanding of European mobility, including the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, the spread of the Slavs and the adventures of the Vikings. "Who are the Europeans? Where did they come from? In recent years scientific advances have yielded a mass of new data, turning accepted ideas upside down. In this highly readable account, Jean Manco skilfully weaves the multiple strands of the very latest genetic evidence with archaeology, history and linguistics to produce a startling new history of Europe. Her fast-paced narrative is illustrated with numerous specially commissioned maps and diagrams showing the movements of people, the spread of languages and DNA distributions, as well as photographs and drawings. Completely up to date and unprecedented in the scope, breadth and depth of its research, this paradigm-shifting book paints a spirited portrait of a restless people that challenges our established ways of looking at Europe's past and its people. It will be of great interest to the growing number of people who want to trace their ancestry through DNA and understand what the results mean."--Page 4 de la couverture Who are the Europeans? Where did they come from? In recent years scientific advances have yielded a mass of new data, turning cherished ideas upside down. The idea of migration in prehistory, so long out of favour, is back on the agenda. Visions of continuity now have to give way to a more dynamic view of Europe's past, with one wave of migration followed by another, from the first human arrivals to the Vikings. This pioneering book brings together for the first time the latest genetic evidence and combines it with archaeology and linguistics to produce a new history of Europe