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The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
DNA study reveals mystery of ancient Scots buried at Belgian abbey
What was eventually discerned to be the town's medieval graveyard yielded a snapshot of the people who had lived or travelled to the town and died there since at least 800 AD. But when scientists began to test the lineage of the cemetery's inhabitants, a surprising discovery was made. While the vast majority could be traced to people who lived across the low countries or in Germany, five bodies from the cemetery were identified as coming from much further afield. And researchers have concluded that each – three men and two boys, or juveniles – came from Scotland or possibly Western Ireland. The dig took place in the centre of the town (image: Aron Bvba)But none are related to each other or to anyone else in the graveyard, and were not even buried in the same areas. Now it is thought that the mystery has been solved – hinting at closer links between medieval Scotland and the hinterlands of Europe than was previously thought. Today, St Truiden is a small town far from the coast in the centre of Belgium, with a population of around 40,000. Established in the first Milleneum, it traces its roots back to the establishment of an abbey by St Trudo in the 7th century around a sacred spring said to have healing properties. The town itself grew up around the abbey, becoming established by the mid-800s. It would go on to become a centre of the textile trade, with links across Europe, its stable population interred on top of each other at the same site. 'It's fascinating to see the genetic data from hundreds of years here in one little city,' KU Leuven professor and genealogist Maarten Larmuseau, who co-led the study, told the local Brussels Times. 'We could sample so many individuals from such a long period and same place, making it the biggest study ever for one location.' Graves dating back centuries were discovered (Image: Aron Bvba) The study of the bones' DNA shows that four of the Scots came from between the years 1000 AD to 1286 - with the fifth believed to have originated slightly later. At this time Christianity had deep roots in Scotland, which was becoming established as the Kingdom of Alba as Gaelic domination overrode the realms of the Picts and Britons who also occupied parts of the land. As the bodies found in the graveyard were traced to either Scotland or Ireland, it is likely they were Gaels from the west who had travelled to Europe. The study rules out any links to the well-travelled Vikings, whose DNA samples were also used for comparison, and who settled many parts of Scotland in the centuries prior to the date the bodies were interred. Instead, the study believes the men and boys found in the graveyard were linked to the town's abbey itself, with one buried close to its grounds. READ MORE: 'Exceptional' ancient artefacts uncovered as new golf course takes shape New Viking displays bring Orkney's Norse past to life The study says: 'Contrary to what might be expected based on the abbey's international connections, as noted in its chronicles, and the long-distance trade of products from Sint-Truiden, no long-distance migrants from regions outside Northwest Europe were identified among the genomes we studied. 'Most individuals in Sint-Truiden, based on their clustering with modern-day genomes from Flanders, likely had local origins in the region surrounding Sint-Truiden. 'The only exception in our sample to the predominantly local ancestry profile typical to the Low Countries is a distinct group of five individuals with profiles similar to those from Ireland and Scotland.' It adds: 'Four of the outliers date to 1000–1286 and one to Early Middle Ages, and they were buried separately at the cemetery site. 'All male individuals belonged to the Y chromosome haplogroup R1b2-L21 clade, whose ancestry is uniquely related to the British Isles. 'Despite two of the outliers being juveniles, none of the individuals shared close genetic relationships with each other or anyone else sampled from Sint-Truiden.' The graveyard covered a huge area (Image: Aron Bvba) At this time links religious between Scotland and the continent had become strong, with Benedectine monks establishing abbeys in several locations. Tellingly, the abbey in Sint Truiden was also Benedictine, suggesting the men and boys were monks or at least pilgrims. However, records kept by the abbey make no mention of Scottish connections, which would be expected if there were formal links with Caledonian abbeys. But the other possibility is that the group were stonemasons or carpenters who were plying their trade in Europe at the time the abbey underwent reconstruction, and another large church was built in Sint Truiden. The study says: 'It is plausible that these persons were connected to the Benedictine abbey, although the abbey's chronicles make no mention of connections to Ireland or Scotland. 'Therefore, they may have been specialized craftsmen or pilgrims during the abbey's period of growth when a large church and other parts of the abbey were constructed.' Despite the mystery, the projects leaders remain pleased with the discovery, which represents the first remains of individuals from Scotland in the Low Countries during this period. Aside from the Scots' remains, the DNA study also uncovered some rather more macabre findings. Among the bones dating to the 14th century was the first trace of the lack Death in discovered medieval Flanders. Known to be found in England and in Germany at the time, the discovery is the first time it has been found in the Low Countries or in Flanders. But unlike the plague pits of elsewhere, Individuals with traces of the disease were buried in scattered, individual graves. 'What was really interesting was that they were not buried in a mass grave, but really separated from each other. So maybe people at that time didn't know why they were dying,' Prof Larmuseau said. There is no mention of the plague in the chronicles of the abbey and in the city records in the 14th century, but it is then found in the DNA – which is 'amazing' , says the researcher. However, there was the study also allowed researchers to fit together family trees from long-forgotten remains – finding that many relatives of the same familes were interred in the Cemetry during the centuries. With so many bodies buried over so long a time, it was no surprise that the study allowed researchers to find connections between the bones.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- The Independent
European city asks tourists to stop stealing ancient cobblestones
A city in Belgium has told tourists to stop stealing cobblestones from its historic centre after losing up to 70 each month during peak season. Bruges, the capital of West Flanders and a Unesco World Heritage Site has warned holidaymakers that its stones are not souvenirs. City councillor Franky Demon recently claimed that the medieval city is losing between 50 and 70 cobblestones each month to visitor pockets, with repair costs of around €200 (£168) per square metre of stones. He urged tourists: 'We ask for nothing but respect. Walking in Bruges means treading on centuries of history. Please leave these stones where they belong,' reported The Brussels Times. According to Demon, local spots such as Minnewater, Vismarkt, the Grand Place and the Gruuthuse Museum are rapidly losing cobbles, creating a safety hazard for pedestrians. In a statement to CNN, he said: 'While some may see this as harmless or quirky, the consequences are serious. The removal of cobblestones poses a clear safety risk to both residents and visitors. Missing or loosened stones create tripping hazards, and city workers must frequently be dispatched to carry out repairs.' Demon added that the cobblestones are 'part of our city's soul' and should be left intact for future visitors. It's not the first time locals in Bruges have taken action against tourism. Last July, a tour guide in Bruges was pushed off a bridge in front of a horrified group of tourists for 'destroying' the city's cultural heritage by sitting down. Pascal Gerritsen, a 31-year-old Dutch tour guide, was sent tumbling into the Dijver Canal when an unidentified man on a bicycle shoved him off his perch on St Bonifacius Bridge. A man who called himself the 'Masked Lover of Architecture' told VRT that he was the one who deliberately pushed Pascal as he has 'no respect for architecture'. 'It is forbidden to use street furniture, eg benches, dustbins, lampposts, to address tour participants,' the assailant wrote of his motivation.
Ammon
14-05-2025
- General
- Ammon
Archaeologists find 'unique' Roman-era wooden water pipe in Belgium
Ammon News - During construction work on Brusselsestraat in Leuven, a Roman-era wooden water pipe was discovered, according to the city council on Wednesday. Archaeologists describe the discovery as 'remarkable and unique.' Under normal circumstances, a wooden water pipe would not have survived for such a long period. However, the waterlogged soil conditions on Brusselsestraat made it possible. At a depth of about 4 meters, archaeologists found a wooden water pipe running the entire length of the construction pit, totaling 20 to 30 meters. The pipe consisted of several tree trunks, each about 1.75 meters long. Remains of what could have been a pumping installation were also found on the tree trunks. The pipe probably also runs under the houses on Goudbloemstraat and under Brusselsestraat. Under normal circumstances, a wooden water pipe would never have survived for such a long period of time. Wooden water pipes have also been found in Tienen and Tongeren, for example, but the wood is mostly rotten or completely decayed. This was possible due to the marshy ground on Brusselsestraat. Brussels Times
Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Order to confine 160,000 Spaniards, due to toxic chlorine cloud near Barcelona, lifted
After issuing orders to restrict more than 160,000 people indoors in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region due to a fire at an industrial warehouse which released a toxic cloud of chlorine, the regional government lifted the order on Saturday in a major relief for the residents. The fire started in the coastal city of Vilanova i la Geltrú, south of Barcelona at a swimming pool cleaning products company at 2:20am (local time) on Saturday, and caused a thick plume of chlorine clouds over the area. Authorities immediately sprung into action and urged the residents in the affected zone to stay indoors, but hours later lifted the restricting order. The Civil Protection Service in a post on X said 'If you are in the zone that is affected, do not leave your home or your place of work.' The service advised the citizens to close the doors and windows in the risk zone, which stretched across five towns along the coast, from Vilanova i la Geltrú to the village of Calafell, near Tarragona. Over 160,000 Catalonia residents told to remain indoors due to a toxic chlorine cloud from a depot fire. Authorities continue to monitor toxicity levels. — The Brussels Times (@BrusselsTimes) May 11, 2025 The Catalan emergency services onSaturday said that no one was hurt in the fire, but residents in at least five towns were informed via message on their respective mobile phones to stay indoors due to the toxic cloud of chlorine. Jorge Vinuales Alonso, owner of the industrial property, told local radio station Rac1 that 'It is very difficult for chlorine to catch fire, but when it does so it is very hard to put it out,' Reuters reported. Alonso further said that the cause of the fire in the warehouse could have been a lithium battery. Among the other precautionary measures, trains which were due to be passed from the affected area were halted, roads leading to the region were blocked by the administration and other events which were planned remained cancelled. Civil Protection spokesperson Joan Ramon Cabello, in a statement to local media said that fire was under control.
Morocco World
28-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Royal Air Maroc Cancels March 31 Flights From, To Belgium Due to Strike
Rabat – Royal Air Maroc (RAM) announced today that flights scheduled for March 31 from and to Belgium will be exceptionally canceled. The airline announced the news on its social platforms, noting that flights AT832 and AT833 on March 31 will be canceled due to a strike in Belgium. In its statement, Royal Air Maroc assured that it is doing 'everything possible' to limit the impact of the situation to ensure a smooth service. 'We thank our passengers for their patience and understanding during this exceptional situation, which is beyond our control,' the airline said. The airline invited passengers of the flights to contact RAM's call center or consult the airline website for any additional information regarding the arrangement in their favor. The Brussels Times said the strike will cover the whole country as workers from both the private and public sectors will go on strike protesting the new Federal Government's budget cuts. 'It will cause disruptions across the entire country as flights are cancelled, public transport will be disrupted, and employees will take to the streets to denounce the anti-social measures in the coalition agreement,' the news outle t said . Brussels Airport announced that no passenger flights will depart from Zaventem on Monday, noting that 244 flights are canceled. The news outlet further stressed that cancellations are expected to also affect arriving flights. The news might affect diaspora members, who booked the same canceled flights to fly to Morocco to celebrate Eid Al Fitr at home. The North African country is expected to announce Monday as Eid. The country is yet to confirm the official date after sighting the crescent moon for the month o Shawwal, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Tags: crisis in royal air marocRoyal Air Maroc
