 The genetic history of Wales shows that the Welsh are the most genetically similar to the ancient people of Britain following the last Ice Age compared to other groups in the British Isles. The reason for this is simple geography. So this is a map of Wales in the context of the UK. This is a map of Wales in the context of Europe. Over the centuries the main migrations and invasions into the British Isles have come from the Vikings, from places such as Norway and Scandinavia in general. Others have been from the Anglo-Saxons, from regions of the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, flooding into the UK or the British Isles, and then also the Normans from obviously the north of France general territory that have flooded into the UK. As you can see, the geography of Wales has meant that it's sheltered to a large degree from all these migrations, these main migrations, into the British Isles. Furthermore, it seems when there was invasions and migrations into ancient Britain. Many ancient Britons fled west into Wales for safety. This is not to say that Wales was immune from invasions and migrations over the centuries, with the Romans famously conquering large parts of the lands we call Wales today, thousands of years ago. Yet Wales doesn't seem to have the same influx of migrations as other countries in the British Isles. The Anglo-Saxons left a notable genetic impression on the English, for instance, and in Scotland there is a somewhat notable Viking-Norse legacy on the genetics of Scotland. There is more to the story, however. Numerous studies have noted a north-south split in Wales. Professor Peter Donnelly, a professor of statistical science at Oxford University, who conducted a 2012 study on Welsh DNA, stated that people in north Wales look relatively distinct from people in south Wales. The people of the British Isles study also noted a north-south split in Wales, and found that the Welsh themselves are genetically distinct from the rest of the British Isles. In fact, this study found that north and south Wales are about as genetically distinct from each other, as are Central and Southern England, from Northern England and Scotland. This north-south division corresponds well with the ancient kingdoms of Gwyneth in the north and David in the south. As we have seen, the Welsh are the most genetically similar to the earliest settlers of the British Isles after the last Ice Age than any other group in the British Isles. What's your thoughts? Please let me know in the comments below. If you would like to support this work through Patreon and get ad-free content and other exclusive benefits, and also donate through buymeacoffee.com or PayPal, all the links are in the description below. Thanks for watching and please subscribe and hit the bell. I'll speak to you next time.