Leicester's Roman skeletons have 'African links'

Skeletons found in Leicester could be the earliest examples of African people living in the famously diverse city.

Roman belt buckle that was buried with someone who may have been an imperial official

The University of Leicester found 83 skeletons in a Roman graveyard dating back as early as the 2nd Century. Six with possible African ancestry is the first evidence of migrants from the continent in the city, experts said. Leicester is one of the UK's most diverse cities, with half its population described as white British compared to 80% nationally

Mathew Morris, project supervisor, said it showed Leicester's multiculturalism was not confined to recent decades.

The remains, dating between the 2nd and 4th Century, were discovered during a series of excavations between 2010 and 2015 at a former factory site in Western Road.
However, the university said some bodies were buried with grave goods or exhibit burial customs not previously seen in the city.
Mr Morris said six had African cranial features but "excitingly" two of them, one a child, appear to have been born in England.
He said by studying their teeth the team was able to tell what type of water they drank and where in the country it originated.
Through this process, known as isotope analysis, they can chart migration.
The archaeologist said one of the people was probably born in the Pennines area and the other in Leicester itself.
www.bbc.com...

A selection of grave goods from the cemetery include intact pottery vessels, glass and bone beads

Well most folks who make regular post here, would not be surprised by this find, I and others have posted on the Ivory Bangled lady, in York about a wealthy Roman lady of African origin, and we all know that the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus an African of multi ethnic blend who stationed numerous African troops at Hadrian's wall , but a lot of us take it for granted that we know who our ancestors where based on our appearance today, some also think they can control what their descendants will look like in the future, so far we also had the remains of East Asians in a recent find posted here on ATS, I am also working a theory on certain family crest not connected to any Moors of a later period but with folks who looked like they could be of African ancestry, but that's for another time.
Swirling is nothing new.

edit on 7-12-2016 by Spider879 because: (no reason given)

Using the example of an occupying army might not be the best idea when talking about diversity...

a reply to: Spider879
Yes, Britain was taken over by an empire which included parts of Africa, and was therefore in a position to bring in African soldiers.
Graveyards in India and parts of Africa would contain skeletons which had white European links, for much the same reason.

The use of the word "migrant", while technically valid, is a little tendentious and misleading. They would not have been "migrants" in the sense being used in current politics.

originally posted by: DISRAELI
a reply to: Spider879
Yes, Britain was taken over by an empire which included parts of Africa, and was therefore in a position to bring in African soldiers.
Graveyards in India and parts of Africa would contain skeletons which had white European links, for much the same reason.

The use of the word "migrant", while technically valid, is a little tendentious and misleading. They would not have been "migrants" in the sense being used in current politics.

True , but all were not military, some would have been businessmen, diplomats religious figures and the like , as in the case of the Ivory Bangled lady, the worship of Isis also made it to Britain, this could have include Nile Valley religious figures.

Isis worshipers in Rome, in any case they would have been viewed and rightly so by the locals as simply invaders despite their occupation, however a link however forced or forged is still part of what went into making that society.

a reply to: Spider879

My ancestry most likely includes these stonemasons. I was christened in that church. I work with stone sometimes, these days Cotswold dry stone. I feel links to inherited knowledge when I handle stone.
l19project.com...

The most famous of these legends is that of Moorish stonemasons being brought back from the crusades by Orm of Biddulph.

There will be many of these legends in all parts of the country.

Doesn't excuse Kalergi.

a reply to: Kester

Kool thanks for the vid link very interesting..
Actually your link mentioned Norman Knights, there might have been a slim possibility that these Black men were converts or descendants of converts from Moors of Sicily that Frederick II incorporated in his military and civilian apparatus, one became a governor of Sicily, so if the legend is true that might be it.

originally posted by: DISRAELI
The use of the word "migrant", while technically valid, is a little tendentious and misleading. They would not have been "migrants" in the sense being used in current politics.

The Roman military ranks were notoriously assimilative though, intermarrying with local girls and settling down on retirement where they had been posted rather than going 'home', either way, as armies do, they will have left their genetic mark on the country whether they themselves stayed or not, culturally, much less so.

originally posted by: Anaana

originally posted by: DISRAELI
The use of the word "migrant", while technically valid, is a little tendentious and misleading. They would not have been "migrants" in the sense being used in current politics.

The Roman military ranks were notoriously assimilative though, intermarrying with local girls and settling down on retirement where they had been posted rather than going 'home', either way, as armies do, they will have left their genetic mark on the country whether they themselves stayed or not, culturally, much less so.

You may not know how true, up -close and personal your reply is..

Dont forget that north africa was romes
breadbasket. They had huge wheat plantations, so i wouldnt be a stretch to see North africans spread out within the empire.

a reply to: Spider879

Nice post!

And thank you for mentioning the Ivory Bangled lady! More often than not, their business was not military related. They werent all soilders

a reply to: Kester

Oh WOW!!!!! Very cool!