DNA to Test Theory of Roman Village in China

Reverse Gear writes "Many of the inhabitants of a lonely village in north western China seems to have distinctive western features. An old theory from the 50s suggests that a Roman legion lost in what is now Iran in the year 53BC lost their commanding officer. They traveled east, so the legend goes, working as mercenaries until they were caught by the Chinese 17 years later. The Chinese described them as using a 'fish-scale formation', which could be a reference to the well-known Roman phalanx technique called the 'tortoise'. The remainder of the legion, it is suggested, may have intermarried with the villagers in Liqian. Scientists are now trying to verify the fascinating theory by testing the DNA of the inhabitants of the Chinese village."

Comments

Re:Macedonians in Pakistan

[Zontar_Thing_From_Ve]

There is also a similar story in the Chitral Valley in northern Pakistan, where many of the local Kalash people have blue eyes and blond hair and worship a pantheon of gods.

Nice story, but probably not a word of truth in it. Remember, this is Pakistan. This is where the crazy Taliban folks got started. You might have heard of the Taliban. They blew up statues of Buddha when they ran Afghanistan. They put Christian aid workers on trial for their lives for supposedly trying to convert the local populice. Do you really think it's credible that anywhere in Pakistan people who "worship a pantheon of gods" would be allowed to live and do so? Because I don't. Here's a quote from the Wikipedia entry on the region -
"The culture is conservative Islamic."
I think this casts a lot of doubt about the accuracy of your post.

Re:Macedonians in Pakistan

[smoker2]

Are you a complete moron ? The situation in Pakistan today is as relevant to the historical past as comparing the USA to ancient Egypt.
Pakistan didn't exist as an autonomous state until 1947.

Try reading a little bit of fact to reduce your ignorance.

Here's another less leading quote from Wikipedia :

Pakistan has a very rich cultural and traditional background going back to Indus Valley Civilization, 2800 BC-1800 BC. The region of Pakistan has been invaded in the past, occupied and settled by many different people, including Dravidians, Aryans, Greeks, White Huns, Persians, Arabs, Turks, Mongols and various Eurasian groups. And indeed the region has formed a distinct cultural unit within the main cultural complex of South Asia from prehistoric times. There are differences in culture among the different ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion, especially where pre-Islamic customs differ from Islamic practices. The cultural origins come from the civilizations of North India and eastern Afghanistan, with significant influences from Persia, Turkestan and Hellenistic Greece. However, it was the first part of the subcontinent to receive the full impact of Islam. Hence it has developed an identity of its own.