Small Mammals Have a 'Celtic Fringe' Too!

The 'Celtic fringe' is a group of people in the Northern and Western British Isles who are culturally and genetically distinct.  The existence of this 'Celtic fringe' has been debated by scientists for some time now.  New evidence has been found in support of the Celtic fringe theory through the movement of small mammals into Europe after the last Ice Age.  The study analyzed mitochondrial DNA lineages of the bank vole, the field vole, and the pygmy shrew.  This data determined that they colonized Europe in a two-phase process.



This colonization mimics the Celtic human distribution throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland, Eire, Wales, the Isle of Man, and Cornwall.  "We believe this study of the distribution of small mammals can help us to understand why humans in the British Isles form a Celtic fringe," stated Professor Searle of the University of York.  This study was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

I was very interested that these researchers were able to connect genetic similarities between small mammals and the Celtic humans.  I have taken an entire class regarding the history and culture of the Celtic people and find the subject fascinating.  What I learned, however, was based on ancient texts.  I am glad that these small mammals are contributing to the proof of the Celtic existence from a scientific standpoint.