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."

Where no one has gone before~

[bronney]

The village is now overlooked by a pillared portico, in the hope of attracting tourists.

God damn Romulans!!!!!!111!!!

suspicious??

[markxsd]

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!

Unclear

[UED++]

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.

What is that supposed to mean? Did they lose a battle and flee to china rather than facing their superiors? Did they lose their sense of direction? (How can you mistake east for west?) Maybe they were LARPing and got a bit carried away?

a bit far...

[symes]

to go for a take out - dontcha think?

Re:Not the first indication of Europeans in China.

[clickety6]

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."

Re:Hmm...

[Whiteox]

Now here's a theory!
Supposing that the Romans introduced spaghetti to the Chinese!
Hmmmm......
And then Marco Polo brought it back?

Re:How can they test?

[Timesprout]

especially after being lost for 17 years.

They were not lost, just slightly unsure of where they were invading.

Re:suspicious??

[Bob54321]

Gu Meina, now six, was born with a shock of blonde hair.

My guess it is with the blond guy you saw in the village about 9 months ago!

Your math is shocking... either that or there has been some technological advances not reported on Slashdot.

Failed Math

[Anonymous Coward]

My ancestry is from that region of China. Now I know why I failed Math.

Re:But...

[comradeeroid]

That'd be the lost greek legion.

Re:How can they test?

[Speare]

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.

Yeah, if a woman was along with all those lost men, she would have asked for directions!

Still fresh?

[Anonymous Coward]

What's the expiry date?

Re:suspicious??

[Ankou]

You know it would save a lot of money and time if we settled this on the Maury Povich show. "Marcus Aurelius, you ARE the father!" Man that back child support fo that many years will be a BITCH!

Re:But...

[mrex]

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".

Re:Not the first indication of Europeans in China.

[toddhisattva]

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!

Re:How can they test?

[theckhd]

(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.

Re:How can they test?

[JabberWokky]

I was thinking of cheek swabs versus blood samples and how they are preserved in less than sterile field environments. I was also wondering about legal and cultural issues that would complicate the collection of said samples.
.
It seems that the rest of Slashdot has a much more haploid oriented view of DNA collection than I do.

--
Evan

Re:How can they test?

[KH]

I'm guessing the mitochondrial line which is passed down in the female line would be no good as not many Roman solders were female...

But Bwian's father was a woman centuwion...