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> Researchers recently traced their spread around the world to their relations with farmers and travels with merchants and Vikings ... > Geigl’s team discover
by tgflynn 4y ago
> Researchers recently traced their spread around the world to their relations with farmers and travels with merchants and Vikings
...
> Geigl’s team discovered that cats with a mitochondrial lineage from Egypt began appearing in Bulgaria, Turkey and sub-Saharan Africa between the fourth century B.C. and the fourth century A.D.
That sounds much too early for Vikings. The connection with maritime trade makes sense but I don't see where Vikings fit into the picture.
- macintux 4y agoThe page is ambiguous, but I’m fairly confident they’re not saying the 2nd wave ended in the 4th century A.D.
- tgflynn 4y agoThen a better way to describe the "second wave" would probably be along the lines of "sailors have been spreading cats around the world since about 400 BCE". I think I've heard of islands that had no cats until they were visited by European ships in the 19th century, so it's a trend that likely didn't end until the whole world was colonized.
- jjtheblunt 4y agoThe next sentence says : In fact, a cat with the Egyptian mitochondrial DNA was found in a Viking site in North Germany dating between 700 and 1000 A.D. which means by the time Vikings were Vikings they already had cats, and could bring them along for their rides?
- sillyquiet 4y agoWay too early. From the dates, its more likely to be Roman sailors and/or Roman-affiliated traders.