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A review by thebibliophage
Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland by Bryan Sykes
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Originally published on my book blog, TheBibliophage.com.
Bryan Sykes focuses on science and genetics in his book, Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland. Published in 2006, it explains and examines his extensive research.
His team took thousands of cheek swabs from folks all over the British Isles. The goal was finding where genetics of conquering populations like Saxons and Vikings is strongest in the area. Conversely, the team also searched for genetics related to the islands’ indigenous populations, the Picts and Celts. In that work, Sykes attempts to determine if they really are indigenous.
Although Sykes shares funny stories of his various data gathering strategies, the book borders on the academic, with a drier tone and heavier focus on statistics and analysis. Still, it’s an interesting question for genealogists with roots in the British Isles—Britain, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
This is entirely a book about explaining genetics from a fairly small corner of the world. I also appreciated the detailed explanations of various types of DNA and DNA tests. We now focus on autosomal DNA, but Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA are also key elements. Sykes does his best to make it approachable, but I often put the book down and struggled to re-engage later.
If you’re a serious genealogical researcher, you’ll appreciate his ideas and information. However, casual hobbyists might find it a bit too dry.
Bryan Sykes focuses on science and genetics in his book, Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland. Published in 2006, it explains and examines his extensive research.
His team took thousands of cheek swabs from folks all over the British Isles. The goal was finding where genetics of conquering populations like Saxons and Vikings is strongest in the area. Conversely, the team also searched for genetics related to the islands’ indigenous populations, the Picts and Celts. In that work, Sykes attempts to determine if they really are indigenous.
Although Sykes shares funny stories of his various data gathering strategies, the book borders on the academic, with a drier tone and heavier focus on statistics and analysis. Still, it’s an interesting question for genealogists with roots in the British Isles—Britain, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
This is entirely a book about explaining genetics from a fairly small corner of the world. I also appreciated the detailed explanations of various types of DNA and DNA tests. We now focus on autosomal DNA, but Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA are also key elements. Sykes does his best to make it approachable, but I often put the book down and struggled to re-engage later.
If you’re a serious genealogical researcher, you’ll appreciate his ideas and information. However, casual hobbyists might find it a bit too dry.