28mm Pict Hunters, from Footsore Miniatures. Interestingly, I've received results this week from a DNA test, and it appears that when compared to the reference samples I return 29.4% Pict (AD 300-500). Not sure of the accuracy but it maybe goes some way to explaining my affinity for this army. Anyhow, I'll accept it for now and let loose my inner Pict on the tabletop!
I've included the reference samples and article below for those interested. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing how future research reveals our distant ancestry.
The reference sample used to determine Pictish DNA were VK201, VK202, VK203 and VK207.
Magaryan, A., Lawson, D.J., Sikora, M.et al. stated that,
"... four (VK201, VK202, VK203 and VK207) of these
samples have over 85% “UK” ancestry and are genetically similar to present-day Irish and Scottish populations (Figs 3a and S10.1, Supplementary Table 6), which is in contrast to the isotopic evidence43. Haplotype-based analyses corroborate that four of these samples possessed local genetic ancestries, with little Scandinavian contribution. Only two individuals - VK204 and VK205 - displayed c. 50% Norwegian and Danish ancestries (Supplementary Table 6), respectively, which may indicate admixture between the locals and Scandinavians on the Orkney Islands during the VA. The four ancient genomes of Orkney individuals with little Scandinavian ancestry may be the first ones of Pictish people published to date (Supplementary Note 12). Yet a similar (>80% “UK” ancestry) individual was found in Ireland (VK545) and five in Scandinavia, implying that Pictish populations were integrated into Scandinavian culture by the Viking Age."
Magaryan, A., Lawson, D.J., Sikora, M.et al. Population genomicsof the Viking world. Nature 585, 390-396 (2020).
