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:Pasta

[CRCulver]

If proven, then the theory that Marco Polo brought spaghetti to Italy will finally have some competition. Were noodles, in fact, a Roman invention introduced to the Chinese?

The problem of ascribing pasta to the Romans is that this particular food is not described in the texts at all. We know more about Roman dining customs than about any other ancient people, with whole recepies reconstructed, see Patrick Fass' Around the Roman Table (University of Chicago Press, 2005). And pasta is nowhere to be found.

Re:How can they test?

[peragrin]

Is only passed down from mother to daughter. while a male child will get it from his mother his child will get it from theirs.

A roman legion is most likely all male. while possible a few women a were present it is doubtful. especially after being lost for 17 years.