Tuesday 28 December 2010

THE PARADOX OF MEDIEVAL SCOTLAND 1093-1286 - Social Relationships and Identities before the Wars of Independence

This project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and combining the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and King's College London, has investigated how a recognisably modern Scottish identity was formed during the period 1093-1286. Drawing on over 6000 contemporary charters, it constructed a unique data-base which will provide biographical information about all known people in Scotland between 1093 and 1286.

This data-base is freely available at http://www.poms.ac.uk/ although this morning when I attempted a search it still seemed to be on holiday! Hopefully this IT issue will be resolved soon.

Here is some more background information from the site:-
The period between 1093 and 1286 laid the foundations for modern Scotland. At its start, the king of Scots ruled no more than a small east coast realm between Lothian and Moray. At its end, his authority extended over the whole area of modern Scotland apart from the Northern Isles. During the same period, Scotland's society and culture was transformed by the king implanting a new nobility of Anglo-Norman origin and establishing English influenced structures of law and government. Rees Davies observed of Scotland that 'paradoxically, the most extensively English-settled and Anglicised part of the British Isles was the country which retained its political independence' (The First English Empire, 170).
The paradox could go deeper. Is it a coincidence that it was only in the thirteenth century, when Anglicisation became dominant in the lowlands, that the kingdom of the Scots ceased to be regarded by its inhabitants as a realm of many regions and began to be thought of as a single country and people? In one sense the kingdom was becoming more self-consciously Scottish; and yet its history in this period is typically seen in terms of native distinctiveness being eroded by the influx of English immigration, social institutions and culture. But, should this be seen primarily in British terms? How does this transformation relate to wider patterns of social and cultural homogenisation that have been identified in this period, embracing French-speaking elites, Flemish as well as English traders, and the religious life and institutions of Latin Christendom?
There are also some useful links available on the site for those interested in early Scottish and English history.

Thanks to Chris Paton for highlighting this new resource at Scottish GENES and via Twitter.

Monday 25 October 2010

Scottish DNA Project Blog

The Scottish DNA Project Blog has been launched today with the aim of keeping participants and those interested in Scottish DNA studies updated with news and developments in the world of genetic genealogy.

The project currently has over 2300 members who have submitted results for Y-DNA, mtDNA or Family Finder (Autosomal) testing.

Alasdair

http://www.yourscottishancestry.com/
Professional Genealogy Research Service

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Family Tree DNA - Genetic testing to answer your genealogy questions

FamilyTreeDNA have announced their latest research tool called Family Finder.

The next revolution in genetic genealogy

The science is simple—linked blocks of DNA across the 22 autosomal chromosomes are matched between two people. The degree of matching yields evidence for the relationship. You have exciting opportunities!

With our autosomal Family Finder test you may extend the power of genetic genealogy to all of your ancestors. Using a test of your own DNA, you can discover connections to descendants of all sixteen of your great-great-grandparents! The Family Finder test will not only open avenues for traditional research but will help you discover the hidden connections that could explain your family’s migrations.

Adoptees discover their heritage

With the power of an autosomal DNA test, confidently match to male and female cousins from any of your family lines. This can provide you with the clues you need to learn more about your birth parents' families.

The possibilities abound!

■ Discover Parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles.

■ Find Half Siblings

■ Make contact with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cousins.

When you take the Family Finder test, your results are compared against our Family Finder database. Your list of matches is designed to be quickly sorted to allow you to focus on your near or distant cousins. Email addresses are provided for easy communication with your matches. When new matches are found, we will notify you by email. Your raw data is freely available for download.

Every adopted person, or those who know that one of their parents or grandparents was adopted, will want to order a Family Finder test to help identify close and distant relatives

FamilyTreeDNA anticipate Family Finder will be offered for general release in the middle of March at the breakthrough price of $249.


Alasdair

http://www.yourscottishancestry.com/
Professional Genealogy Research Service

Saturday 16 January 2010

Ancestry magazine (USA) - back issues now online


Back issues of the popular American ancestry magazine are now available online at Google Books. Editions online are from Jan-Feb 2004 to Jan-Feb 2009.


Available at: http://books.google.com/books?id=ITgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=ancestry&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad=2
Alasdair

http://www.yourscottishancestry.com/
Professional Genealogy Research Service

Friday 15 January 2010

National Library of Scotland - New Digital Archive


The National Library of Scotland has recently launched a new Digital Archive. It includes everything from photographs, prints and digital books to Scottish maps and items of European interest. The site is being added to constantly so go have a wee look.

Check it out at: http://digital.nls.uk/index.cfm

Alasdair
http://www.yourscottishancestry.com/
Professional Genealogy Research Service