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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."
The village is now overlooked by a pillared portico, in the hope of attracting tourists.
God damn Romulans!!!!!!111!!!
From TFA...
Gu Jianming, who lives near Liqian, said he was surprised to be told he might be descended from a European imperial army. But the birth of his daughter was also a surprise. Gu Meina, now six, was born with a shock of blonde hair.
If my wife gave birth to a half Chinese baby and told me that it was descended from an ancient lost tribe of Chinese settlers, I might be somewhat suspicious. Gu Jianming, wake up man, she cheated on you... My guess it is with the blond guy you saw in the village about 9 months ago!
to go for a take out - dontcha think?
mummies from the Takla Makan desert region have strongly European characterstics such as red hair and blue eyes
Commenting on the discovery, Professor Cartman said "These people - the Gingers - were the chosen race but with their red hair, freckles, and pale skin they obviously could not stand the sun."
----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
Now here's a theory!
Supposing that the Romans introduced spaghetti to the Chinese!
Hmmmm......
And then Marco Polo brought it back?
Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
My ancestry is from that region of China. Now I know why I failed Math.
That'd be the lost greek legion.
If you see a rock violating the law of gravity, then the law is wrong, not the rock!
Yeah, if a woman was along with all those lost men, she would have asked for directions!
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What's the expiry date?
Unlike their earlier Greek counterparts, Roman soldiers were forbidden from interfering with each other and were also forbidden from interfering with themslves
Ahhhh yes, "Directivus Primus".
Tocharians are the easternmost "Scotch-Irish" clan ;-)
On a message board discussing the blonde and redhaired Chinese, somebody noted that there are a lot of them in Canada, but that their origin was not Tocharian or Scythian, it was L'Oreal!
(1 woman + legion of male soldiers)*(17 lonely years)=?
If a woman was along with all those lost men, she would probably be too exhausted to ask for directions.
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It seems that the rest of Slashdot has a much more haploid oriented view of DNA collection than I do.
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Evan
"$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien