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The Benelux clade

G-FGC6618 /FGC6666

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This very old and very small clade has only three families whose ancestors lived in the Meuse valley. Their common ancestor lived in Roman times or at the latest in the early Middle Ages. He must have lived in this Meuse valley .

For a side branch we have to go back an incredibly long time, more than 7000 years. How is it possible that all the side branches who have been there of course in these many thousands of years have all died out. We can only understand that when they have lived very isolated in a small, probably less accessible area. I am thinking here of an island in the region where they came from, somewhere in the Mediterranean, because their distant origin lies in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The ancestor came from a population that, after the last ice age in Anatolia, was the first to start agriculture and animal husbandry. At that time, a group of his people moved into Europe and brought the Linear Band Culture there. Another group spread the Mediterranean Cardiac Impression Culture along the coasts of the Mediterranean; from which the culture of La Hoguette in which the Limburg Group is recognized separately.

It has not been shown that he belonged to one of those two groups, but it has not been proven that this is not the case. When and how our ancestor ended up in the Netherlands remains a matter of investigation. It is possible that he settled here in the Roman Age. After their service, legionaries were given a piece of land, usually in their country of origin, when it was in the empire, otherwise in the region where they had last served. Roman garrisons were stationed in the Maasdal.

He has not been shown to belong to either of those two Neolithic groups, but it has not been proven that this is not the case. When and how our ancestor ended up in the Netherlands remains a matter of investigation.

The absence of side branches is consistent with a history of many thousands of years of residence in a small isolated community with no population growth. The haplo group indicates an area near the Mediterranean Sea. It is quite possible that we are descended from a Roman legionary soldier. After their service, veterans were given a piece of land, usually in their country of origin when it was in the empire, otherwise in the region where they had last served. Roman garrisons were stationed in the valley of the Meusel.

Migration map, the dates are before Christ (BCE) (1)

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Split in three in the time of the Merovingians
or perhaps many centuries earlier.

In Roman Times or Middle Ages our clade split in three. The Marres and Slootmaekers families in Maastricht, and Nolet in Namur. It may be that they originate from a joint ancestor. (3)

The three families each have their own defining SNP. (4)

These are there Haplotypes

DYS markers in blue field - DYS values in light yellow field - one genetic step higher in fawn - two steps higher in maroon - one step lower in light green - two steps lower in green.

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