@
basilfawlty89 do you know for a fact that there would be no Berber DNA if you did analyses?
I just asked AI to help settle this:
Yes, Sicilians do have some North African ancestry, and this includes Berber DNA.
Here's why:
Historical Interactions: Sicily's location in the Mediterranean has made it a crossroads for various peoples throughout history, including ancient migrations from North Africa, Phoenician settlements, Roman rule (which included people from North Africa), and the Arab/Berber rule known as the Emirate of Sicily (827 to 1061 AD).
Genetic Studies: Studies on Sicilian genetics have identified Y-chromosome lineages, such as E3b1b-M81, that reflect gene flow from North Africa. This lineage is commonly found among Berber populations.
Estimates of Contribution: While estimates vary, one study suggests that the genetic contribution of North African populations to the Sicilian gene pool is around 6%, compared to an estimated 37% from Greek populations.
It's important to note:
Diverse Ancestry: Sicilian heritage is a complex blend of various groups, including indigenous populations, Greeks, Romans, Normans, Arabs, and others.
North African vs. Sub-Saharan African: It's important to distinguish between North African and Sub-Saharan African ancestry. While some North Africans have Sub-Saharan African admixture, North Africans are diverse, and many can appear more European-looking, according to Quora.
Berbers vs. Arabs: While many Berbers converted to Islam and adopted Arabic as their language, they are ethnically distinct from Arabs. Both Berbers and Arabs were present in Sicily during the period of Muslim rule.
Therefore, Sicilians are likely to have some Berber DNA as part of their diverse genetic heritage, primarily due to historical interactions and migrations across the Mediterranean.
