Ancient Berbers: any information? | Forum

Gerry Fenge Nov 23, 2005 14:12:47

I have a few tantalising bits of info on Berbers and suspect there ought to be a lot more out there. Can anyone help?

1. "Sand covered ruins of the town Arghilas, deep in the Western Sahara" have been dated (perhaps controversially) to 15,000 ya. Previously Berbers were dated back to only 9,000 ya (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/44A851EB-620D-4A2E-9EE6-FDD4D0FE2AB3.htm)
2. The indigenous population of the Canary Isles is Berber (showing up in Mitochondrial DNA, whereas the Spanish input shows up in the Y-chromosomes, indicating invader 'marriages' with local women)
3. The neolithic stone circle at Msoura (25 ks south of Asilah in Northern Morocco) seems to be the only stone circle in Morocco. Odd to only have the one. Are there more? (By the way, the Portal doesn't seems to register even this one, or have I looked wrongly?)

Not sure what these little nuggets add up to. Prehistoric people were quite bold enough to nip on a boat and travel. So why didn't the Berbers travel into Europe? Or did they? Is there any good info? (Someone once told me there was a good article on blood groups published in the early 1980's, but a vague reference like that doesn't get us very far.)

Help appreciated

Gerry

tiompan Nov 23, 2005 16:04:44

Replying to Gerry Fenge

There's a possibility of a pyramid on Tenerife , they also practiced mummification . Stone circles seem to crop up on the northern edges of the sahara . I seem to remember the berbers in and around Zagora were called blue people because they were blue ,the colour came from the dye off their clothes , but that's not ancient. I'm sure there were moorish links to Ireland and UK at least from the iron Age onwards.

Jane Nov 23, 2005 16:19:53

Replying to Gerry Fenge

Slightly further south in Senegal and Gambia they have really quite a few stone circles. The complex at Wassu on the banks of the river Gambia is seriously impressive.

danielspaniel Nov 23, 2005 16:28:48

Replying to Gerry Fenge

Hi Gerry,

No firm evidence I am afraid, but I spent some time in Southern Morocco and was always struck by the prevelance of striking blue/ green eyes amongst many of the Berber people. A marked contrast to the rest of Morocco which is predominantly Arab.

This looks interesting: http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/online/berbers.htm

FourWinds Nov 24, 2005 07:35:21

Replying to Gerry Fenge

There are Mitochondrial DNA and language links between the Berbers, the Basques, the Irish and the Welsh. Irish dancing and music, expecially around the Conemara, also shares similarities.