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Thanks Blam! Have you read 'The Seven Daughters of Eve' by Brian Sykes? My copy is loaned out, but I am quite sure I remember his saying that after extensive blood testing around Europe, the same pattern of matrilinear DNA showed up between the Saami, some of Ireland and Scotland and the Basques. Now, it is early in the am in Sweden, but I feel pretty sure I am remembering this correctly. Also, as the Saami are also in the very northern parts of Sweden that surround Finland, I do need to add that the Saami I see in news stories and on Swedish documentaries are pretty much as you described--dark and shortish. One of my best friends is a Finn, and she is beautifully tall and white blonde, and very different to look at!
Last night, there was a feature on a woman from the Saami region who has just put out a regional folk album, and she sang some live--very eerie and haunting--but really nice to listen to! If anyone is interested, I will try and find her name and send it.
I think that this theory sounds pretty darn good, and would be interested to hear what else you have to say, as always, your posts (often through FarmFriend!) are among my favorites on FR.
(Long post, I know. . .) As an aside, my English grandmother's family, male and female, have a huge proportion of short and dark men and women--male cousins not much taller than 5'1" or 5'2"! We have always referrred to them as Picts!