[blam]

In another article, I've read that the Basque of Spain/France are most closely related to the Scots and Irish. The Basque language (and to a large degree their DNA) is unlike all other Indo-European languages. (They appear to be a group that was isolated in ancient times)

[LN2Campy]

They might be genetically, but the stickler with the Basques, as you point out, is that their language is an inexplicable "oddity" in that it is wholly unrelated to any of the European linguistic groups. I've never been able to find out if it's related to any languages elsewhere in the world. If it were Semitic in origin, then I would guess they could be an isolated remnant of the Phoenicians (Carthaginians), who were settled in a lot of little enclaves all around the Mediterranean.

[BluH2o]

The Basque language (and to a large degree their DNA) is unlike all other Indo-European languages.

Isn't the French Basque dialect very similar to the Welsh dialect? Read this sometime ago ...

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

In another article, I've read that the Basque of Spain/France are most closely related to the Scots and Irish. The Basque language (and to a large degree their DNA) is unlike all other Indo-European languages. (They appear to be a group that was isolated in ancient times)

I haven't heard that, but it is interesting. There may be a link: in the Scottish Declaration of Independence, which hails from the era just after William Wallace, it is mentioned that the Scots had previously been to the land where the 'Pillars of Hercules' is, which is known as the gateway to the mediterranean, and usually associated with Spain. More study needs to be done regarding these matters.

I know from my own last name entered the lexicon of the Scots-Irish from the Normans, who came from France, and Scandinavia before that. Too bad this article didn't mention them, they have a heavy influence on England as well.

[rightofrush]

, I've read that the Basque of Spain/France are most closely related to the Scots and Irish. The Basque language (and to a large degree their DNA) is unlike all other Indo-European languages. (They appear to be a group that was isolated in ancient times)

These two sentences were obviously from two differnet sources.

It has long been my contention that the Basque were indigenous to all of europe before the Celtic invasions.

Could the Basque be desendents of the neolithic beaker people?

[Cronos]

i don't think basque is an indo-eurpean language at all -- it's 'supposed' to be related to chechen