Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T19:09:33.242Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The natural history of man in Shetland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

R. J Berry  and
Veronica M. L. Muir
R. J Berry
Affiliation:
Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford
Veronica M. L. Muir
Affiliation:
Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The Shetland Islands lie in the North Atlantic approximately equi-distant between Scotland, Norway and the Faroes. The earliest known colonizers came from the Mediterranean, but when the Vikings arrived (c. AD 800), there seem to have few or no human inhabitants. The descendants of the west Scandinavians who came to the islands in the early Viking movement still comprise the bulk of the human population, and form a series of isolates unique in the United Kingdom.

The paper summarizes the available information on the origins and physical characteristics of the Shetlanders. Much of this is trivial, but in the absence of any other review we have brought together what is known. The only blood group data are ABO frequencies which are similar to those on the other North Atlantic islands (Orkney, Faroe and Iceland). The best estimates of relationship are based on comparisons of non-metrical skull variant frequencies which show that the nearest relatives of the Shetlanders are the inhabitants of Jaeren in southern Norway. The same conclusion comes from independent evidence of linguistic affinities.

Shetland has the highest known prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the world, and possibly a high incidence of gastric ulceration. It also has a large number of standard Down's syndrome (trisomy-21) patients. These could be the result of the fathers' periodic absences at sea, resulting in their families being spread over a large span of years. Clearly there are interesting and possibly important morbidity and mortality factors operating in the population—which could give significant information about genetical factors in disease. Data on mental defect and psychiatric disease are also presented.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , July 1975 , pp. 319 - 344
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acheson, E.D. (1965) Epidemiology. In: Multiple Sclerosis. A Reappraisal, p. 1. Edited by McAlpine, D., Lumsden, C. E. and Acheson, E. D.. Livingstone, Edinburgh and London.Google Scholar
Allison, R.S. (1963) Some neurological aspects of medical geography. Proc. R. Soc. Med. 56, 71.Google ScholarPubMed
Baldwin, J.A., Innes, G., Miller, W.M., Sharp, G.A. & Dorricott, N. (1965) A psychiatric case register in north-east Scotland. Br. J. prev. soc. Med. 19, 38.Google ScholarPubMed
Barclay, R.S. (1965) The Population of Orkney 1755–1961. Kirkwall Press, Kirkwall.Google Scholar
Benediktsson, G. & Bjarnason, O. (1959) Lepra i island. Nord. Med. 62, 1225.Google Scholar
Berry, A.C. (1974) The use of non-metrical variations of the cranium in the study of Scandinavian population movements. Am. J. Phys. Anthrop. 40, 345.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, A.C. & Berry, R.J. (1967) Epigenetic variation in the human cranium. J. Anat. 101, 361.Google Scholar
Berry, A.C., Berry, R.J. & Ucko, P.J. (1967) Genetical change in ancient Egypt. Man, 2, 551.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, R.J. (1967) Genetical changes in mice and men. Eugen. Rev. 59, 78.Google ScholarPubMed
Berry, R.J. (1968) The biology of non-metrical variation in mice and men. In: The Skeletal Biology of earlier Human Populations, p. 103. Edited by Brothwell, D. R.. Pergamon Press, London.Google Scholar
Berry, R.J. (1969a) History in the evolution of Apodemus sylvaticus (Mammalia) at one edge of its range. J. Zool., Lond. 159, 311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, R.J. (1969b) Genetical factors in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis. Acta neurol. scand. 45, 459.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berry, R.J. (1972) Genetical approaches to taxonomy. Proc. R. Soc. Med. 65, 853.Google ScholarPubMed
Berry, R.J. (1973) Chance and change in British long-tailed field mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). J. Zool., Lond. 170, 351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, R.J. (1974) The Shetland fauna, its significance or lack thereof. In: The Natural Environment of Shetland, p. 151. Edited by Goodier, R.. Nature Conservancy Council, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Biswas, P.C. (1963) Ethno-geographic variations in Denmark. Proc. 2nd int. Congr. hum. Genet. 3, 1430.Google Scholar
Bjarnason, O., Bjarnason, V., Edwards, J.H., Fridriksson, S., Magnusson, M., Mourant, A.E. & Tills, D. (1973) The blood groups of Icelanders. Ann. hum. Genet. 36, 425.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Böök, J.A. (1957) Frequency distribution of total finger ridge-count in the Swedish population. Hereditas, 43, 381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyce, A.J., Holdsworth, V.M.L. & Brothwell, D.R. (1973) Demographic and genetic studies in the Orkney islands. In: Genetic Variation in Britian, p. 109. Edited by Sunderland, E. and Roberts, D. F.. Taylor & Francis, London.Google Scholar
Brand, J. (1701) A Brief Description of Orkney, Zetland, Pightland Firth and Caithness. Brown, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Brøgger, A.W. (1929) Ancient Immigrants. Oxford University Press, London.Google Scholar
Brown, E.S. (1965) Distribution of the ABO and Rheus (D) blood groups in the north of Scotland. Heredity, 20, 289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calder, C.S.T. (1956) Report on the discovery of numerous Stone Age house-sites in Shetland. Proc. Soc. Antiquar. Scot. 79, 340.Google Scholar
Childe, V.G. (1946) Scotland Before the Scots. Methuen, London.Google Scholar
Coull, J.R. (1967) A comparison of demographic trends in the Faroe and Shetland islands. Trans. Inst. Br. Geogrs, 41, 159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowie, J.R. (1871) Shetland and its Inhabitants. Lewis, Smith & Son, Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Cumming, R.P. (1968) Organization of a surgical unit in a remote area. Br. med. J. iv, 506.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cummins, H. & Midlo, C. (1943) Finger-prints, Palms and Soles. Blakiston, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Daniel, G.E. (1941) The dual nature of the megalithic colonization of prehistoric Europe. Proc. prehist. Soc. 7, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donaldson, G. (1958) Shetland Life under Ear I Patrick. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh and London.Google Scholar
Donaldson, G. (1969) The Scottish Settlement. Inaugural address, Quincentenary Historical ongress, Lerwick. Shetland Times, 22nd 08 1969.Google Scholar
Donegani, J., Dungal, N., Ikin, E. & Mourant, A. (1950) The blood groups of the Icelanders. Ann. Eugen. 15, 147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dungal, N. (1961) The special problem of stomach cancer in Iceland. J. Am. med. Ass. 178, 789.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edmonston, A. (1809) A View of the Ancient and Present state of the Zetland Islands. Ballantyne, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Ferguson, T. (1960) Mortality in Shetland a hundred years ago. Scott. med. J. 5, 107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Field, E.J. (1973) A rational prophylactic theraphy for multiple sclerosis. Lancet, ii, 1080.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, R.A. & Taylor, G.L. (1940) Scandinavian influence in Scottish ethnology. Nature, Lond. 145, 590.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fog, M. & Hyllested, K. (1966) Prevalence of disseminated sclerosis in the Faroes, the Orkneys and Shetland. Acta neurol. scand. 42, Suppl. 19, 9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grewal, M.S. (1962) The rate of genetic divergence of sublines in the C57BL strain of mice. Genet. Res. 3, 375.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, D.J., Robertson, N.C., Dorricott, N., Olley, P.C. & Millar, W.M. (1973) The North-east Scottish psychiatric case register—the second phase. J. chron. Dis. 26, 375.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hamilton, J.R.C. (1956) Excavations at Jarlshof, Shetland. HM Stationery Office, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Hamilton, J.R.C. (1968) Excavations at Clickhimin, Shetland. HM Stationery Office, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Harris, H. & Kalmus, H. (1950) Chemical specificity in genetical differences of taste sensitivity. Ann. Eugen. 15, 32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, O. & Lundevall, J. (1944) Blood group distribution in Norway. Skr. norske Vidensk-Akad. 2, 1.Google Scholar
Heineberg, H. (1972) Die Shetland-inseln ein Agrarisches Problem Gebiet Schottlands. Bochumer Geographische Arbeiten, Vol. 5.Google Scholar
Hibbert, S. (1822) Description of the Shetland Islands. Constable, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Holt, S.B. (1968) The Genetics of Dermal Ridges. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois.Google Scholar
Holt, S.B. & Lindstein, J. (1964) dermatoglyphic anomalies in Turner’s syndrome. Ann. hum. Genet. 28, 87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Howe, G.M. (1963) National Atlas of Disease Mortality in the United Kingdom. Nelson, Edinburgh and London.Google Scholar
Innes, G., Kidd, C. & Ross, H.S. (1968) Mental subnormality in north-east Scotland. Br. J. Psychiat. 114, 35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jakobsen, J. (1928) An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland. Nutt, London, and Vilhelm Prior, Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Jakobsen, J. (1936) The Place-names of Shetland. Nutt, London, and Vilhelm Prior, Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Kurtzke, J.F. (1966) An evaluation of the geographic distribution of multiple sclerosis. Acta neurol. scand. 42, Suppl. 19, 91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lacaille, A.C. (1954) The Stone Age in Scotland. Oxford University Press, London.Google Scholar
Mohr, J. (1951–1952) Taste sensitivity to phenyl-thio-urea in Denmark. Ann. Eugen. 16, 282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O’Dell, A.C. (1939) The Historical Geography of the Sheltland Isles. Manson, Lerwick.Google Scholar
Penrose, L.S. & Loesch, D. (1970) Topological classifications of palmar dermatoglyphics. J. ment. Defic. Res. 14, 111.Google ScholarPubMed
Persson, I. (1969) The fate of the Icelandic Vikings in Greenland. Man, 4, 620.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Romanus, T. (1965) Ability to taste PTC among Swedish men and women. Acta genet. med. Gemell. 14, 417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ross, H.S., Innes, G. & Kidd, C. (1967) Some observations on the prevalence of Down’s syndrome. Scott. med. J. 12, 260.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shetelig, H. (1940) Viking Antiquities in Great Britian and Ireland. Aschehoug, Oslo.Google Scholar
Small, A. (1967–1968) Distribution of settlement in Shetland and Faroes in Viking times. Saga-book of the Viking Club, 17, 145.Google Scholar
Small, A. (1968) The historical geography of the Norse Viking colonization of the Scottish Highlands. Norsk geogr. Tidsskt. 22, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Small, A. (1969) Shetland: location the key to historical geography. Scott. geogr. Mag. 85, 155.Google Scholar
Small, A., Thomas, C. & Wilson, D.M. (1973) St. Ninian’s Isle and its Treasure. Oxford University Press, London.Google Scholar
Stewart, J. (1954) Udal law and government in Shetland. In: The Viking Congress, Lerwick, July 1950, pp. 84–111. Edited by Simpson, W. D. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh and London.Google Scholar
Stewart, I. (1965) Shetland farm names. In: Fourth Viking Congress, p. 247. Edited by A, Small. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Sunderland, E. (1966) The tasting of phenylthiocarbamide in selected populations in the United Kingdom. Eugen. Rev. 58, 143.Google ScholarPubMed
Sutherland, J.M. (1956) Observations on the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in northern Scotland. Brain, 79, 635.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taylor, A.B. (1955) British and Irish place-names in Old Norse literature. In: Annen Viking Kongress, p. 113. Edited by K, Falck. Bergen University Press.Google Scholar
Thomson, W.P.L. (1970) Funzie, Fetlar: a Shetland run-rig township in the nineteenth century. Scott. Geogr. Mag. 86, 170.Google Scholar
Toyne, S.M. (1948) The Scandinavians in History. Arnold, London. 24.Google Scholar
Tulinus, S. (1965) Personal communication cited by Mourant, A.E., Kopec, A.C. & Domanlewska Sobozak, K. (1974) In: The Distribution of the Human Blood Groups, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, London.Google Scholar
Wainwright, F.T. (1962a) Picts and Scots. In: The Northern Isles, p. 91. Edited by Wainwright, F. T.Nelson, Edinburgh and London.Google Scholar
Wainwright, F.T. (1962b) The Scandinavian settlement. In: The Northern Isles, p. 117. Edited by Wainwright, F. T.. Nelson, Edinburgh and London.Google Scholar
Welch, S.G., Barry, J.V., Dodd, B.E., Griffiths, P.D., Huntsman, R.G., Jenkins, G.C., Lincoln, P.J., McCathie, M., Mears, G.W. & Parr, C.W. (1973) A survey of blood group, serum protein and red cell enzyme polymorphisms in the Orkney Islands. Hum. Hered. 23, 230.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Welch, S.G. & Mears, G.W. (1972) Genetic variants of human indophenol oxidase in the Westary Island of the Orkneys. Hum. Hered. 22, 38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed