29/05/2025 - Iron Age Connections Across the Channel: The Durotriges as a Fusion of Continental and Insular Celts

Recent breakthroughs in ancient DNA have begun to rewrite our understanding of Iron Age Britain and its relationship with continental Europe. Three major studies—focusing on Iron Age genomes from Normandy, burials from southern Britain, and new mobility analyses in northern France—reveal strong genetic and cultural ties across the English Channel. Together, these findings suggest that the Durotriges may not have been an isolated insular group, but rather the product of a complex fusion between Celtic populations from both sides of the sea.

A Genetic Dialogue Across the Channel

Genome-wide data from Iron Age individuals in Normandy (e.g., UN129, UN19, UN85) align closely with Durotrigian individuals excavated in Dorset, especially LTH01 and several from the Winterborne Kingston cemetery. These individuals cluster tightly in PCA space, pointing to shared ancestry and possibly recent gene flow between the regions during the Late Iron Age.

The Normandy genomes reflect both local Bronze Age continuity and admixture with groups from northern Europe—likely linked to Belgae or Armorican populations. This same blend is observed in southern Britain, reinforcing the idea of sustained interactions across the Channel.

Isotopes and Mobility Support the Picture

This genetic signal is further supported by isotopic data. A 2022 study led by Périn and colleagues showed that several Iron Age individuals buried in northern France had non-local isotope signatures consistent with life histories spanning both sides of the Channel. The authors interpret this as evidence of population movement, possibly including seasonal mobility or migration—fitting perfectly with the genomic data and suggesting a human network actively crossing the sea.

The Durotriges: A Fusion of Celtic Worlds?

The Durotriges have long been seen as a culturally distinct British tribe. However, their genome-wide ancestry profile shows a blend of insular and continental signatures, pointing to a population formed through admixture. Archaeology supports this: continental-style burial practices and imported goods are found in their territory, while similar cultural influences are seen in Normandy.

Rather than representing isolated groups, both regions appear to have been part of a shared cultural and genetic sphere—one that blurred the boundary of land and sea.

A Celtic Maritime Network

The English Channel in the Iron Age was not a barrier but a bridge. Maritime contact facilitated the exchange of people, ideas, and genes, and the Durotriges may well represent a crystallization of this Atlantic Celtic network—a living synthesis of continental and insular traditions.

For those interested in further analysis or visualization, here are the G25 coordinates of the samples of the 2 studies:

France_Normandy_IA:UN129,0.137726,0.136081,0.062225,0.050388,0.030159,0.011992,-0.00658,-0.007615,0.014521,0.01221,0.011042,0.009891,-0.020812,-0.010872,0.014658,-0.004375,-0.007432,0.000887,0.006285,-0.009755,0.012977,0.000618,-0.00949,-0.00253,-0.006706
France_Normandy_IA:UN19,0.144555,0.129988,0.066373,0.061047,0.037545,0.027889,0.017156,0.009692,0.007772,0.00328,-0.006333,0.007493,-0.01219,-0.01734,0.027958,-0.001856,-0.02021,0.003674,0.001257,0.002376,0.003494,0.002844,-0.0053,-0.008917,0.000479
France_Normandy_IA:UN85,0.12862,0.135065,0.062225,0.052649,0.032006,0.012829,-0.00188,0.003923,0.013908,0.011663,-0.011692,0.005695,-0.025421,-0.010735,0.004886,0.01074,0.000261,0.005321,-0.00088,0.008254,-0.000998,0.004822,0.016392,0.007591,-0.011137
Durotrigian:LTH01,0.137726,0.132019,0.066373,0.03876,0.041854,0.018128,-0.000235,-0.004384,0.00409,0.014397,-0.012991,0.008243,-0.014717,-0.007156,0.017644,0.011668,-0.007953,-0.004181,0.002263,-0.001751,0.004866,0.005935,-0.006286,0.001807,0
Durotrigian:MDN01,0.127482,0.126941,0.059208,0.046835,0.03693,0.011435,0.00188,0.007846,0.007567,0.00328,-0.01429,0.002098,-0.016353,-0.017616,0.022122,0.013657,-0.001043,0.000633,0.007668,0.006253,-0.001622,0.006677,-0.005546,0.001084,-0.007903
Durotrigian:WBK01,0.127482,0.136081,0.067882,0.046512,0.0397,0.019243,-0.000235,0.006461,0.009408,0.001093,-0.001299,0.002398,-0.014717,-0.023671,0.021987,0.013126,-0.009388,0.00228,-0.001131,0.006003,0.012603,-0.006183,0.003328,0.01217,0.001197
Durotrigian:WBK02,0.135449,0.147252,0.058077,0.028101,0.050779,0.01004,-0.002115,-0.003231,0.02127,0.024784,-0.010555,0.014987,-0.015609,-0.016652,0.007465,0.005171,-0.000522,0.002914,0.003268,-0.002376,0.002246,0.006677,0.001602,0.000723,-0.001557
Durotrigian:WBK03,0.12862,0.144205,0.056945,0.047158,0.041238,0.011156,0.00141,0.002077,0.001023,0.015308,-0.008119,0.003597,-0.019921,-0.010459,0.017236,0.001193,-0.007693,-0.003167,0.004274,-0.002751,0.00549,-0.000989,0.000493,0.003374,-0.002515
Durotrigian:WBK04,0.124067,0.133034,0.056191,0.044897,0.02462,0.016455,0.004935,0.003231,0.006749,0.007836,0.004222,0.005095,-0.013231,-0.016377,0.016151,0.016176,0.008475,-0.002787,-0.008799,0.001251,-0.000499,0.004946,-0.003574,0.008435,0.017962
Durotrigian:WBK05,0.124067,0.14319,0.05506,0.042959,0.042469,0.018686,0,-0.000692,0.012067,0.004556,-0.005846,0.008992,-0.013825,-0.009358,0.019679,0.009149,-0.001434,0.000127,0.003394,0.003126,0.014474,0.004699,-0.002711,0.006266,0.001796
Durotrigian:WBK06,0.122929,0.132019,0.04978,0.042636,0.040931,0.01757,-0.00094,0.004846,0.008385,0.005285,-0.003085,0.015286,-0.015163,-0.013762,0.02253,0.016706,-0.003912,0.006334,0.006913,0.001376,0.005989,-0.000371,-0.001479,0.007471,0.003473
Durotrigian:WBK07,0.136588,0.14319,0.060339,0.054264,0.039392,0.014781,0.00235,0.004154,0.005113,0.007836,-0.002761,0.005545,-0.010258,-0.014863,0.020494,0.010209,-0.0103,0.005828,-0.002388,0.00025,0.00262,0.00643,0.002835,0.007591,0.000479
Durotrigian:WBK08,0.135449,0.13405,0.060716,0.033915,0.041546,0.016455,0.004935,0.001615,0.004704,0.017495,-0.004222,0.001049,-0.011447,-0.013487,0.010722,-0.003845,-0.016428,0.007981,0.004651,-0.003252,-0.000499,0.004699,0.000739,0.004097,0.00012
Durotrigian:WBK09,0.127482,0.126941,0.060716,0.049742,0.040007,0.024821,0.009635,-0.000692,0.001227,-0.004738,-0.00747,0.004496,-0.012933,-0.023671,0.021037,0.006629,-0.00013,-0.001774,0.00176,0.005753,0.008859,0.003215,0.001725,0.006748,-0.003113
Durotrigian:WBK10,0.124067,0.14319,0.060716,0.039406,0.053241,0.020917,0.00235,-0.003,0.016157,0.027882,-0.007145,0.004196,-0.019772,-0.033029,0.013843,0.019623,0.012908,0.004181,-0.004399,0.000875,-0.002995,-0.004328,0.003328,0.001687,-0.005987
Durotrigian:WBK11,0.126344,0.137096,0.060339,0.039406,0.047086,0.016455,0.00235,0.004846,0.011862,0.021322,-0.00341,0.007493,-0.015461,-0.013762,0.011265,0.007955,0.007562,0.006461,0.004148,0.009379,0.005865,0.004328,0.001109,0.01217,0
Durotrigian:WBK12,0.126344,0.128972,0.058077,0.045543,0.043085,0.013108,-0.00423,0.00923,0.010226,0.011845,-0.010393,0.010641,-0.016799,-0.019267,0.013843,0.014452,-0.005867,0.004814,-0.001508,0.010005,0.009608,-0.000618,0,0.004458,-0.000239
Durotrigian:WBK13,0.129758,0.138112,0.05506,0.04199,0.0397,0.007251,-0.001645,0.005077,0.005727,0.012939,-0.006658,0.012289,-0.016353,-0.010735,0.018051,-0.001989,0.00013,0.005194,0.001383,-0.001,0.008235,0.000989,0.001479,0.008676,-0.002994
Durotrigian:WBK14,0.129758,0.13405,0.056191,0.05814,0.038469,0.009761,0.006345,0.010615,0.00409,-0.00164,-0.010718,0.009442,-0.017393,-0.021332,0.026465,0.02148,0.009518,0.001647,0.000251,0.006128,0.001622,-0.000742,0.007641,0.019159,0.000359
Durotrigian:WBK15,0.135449,0.13405,0.064111,0.044897,0.047086,0.01255,0.00282,0.006692,0.011658,0.003645,-0.006658,0.007493,-0.019475,-0.012111,0.019137,0.007425,-0.003129,-0.002787,0.008925,0.006628,0.008859,0.000495,-0.003081,0.004579,0.005029
Durotrigian:WBK16,0.12862,0.144205,0.059208,0.052649,0.04924,0.01757,0.00517,0.006231,0.016362,0.017859,0.004709,0.007793,-0.019772,-0.013212,0.009636,0.007027,0.001434,-0.00038,0.00817,0.009254,0.009358,0.006801,-0.002835,0.003253,0.001796
Durotrigian:WBK17,0.12862,0.141159,0.057322,0.054264,0.045855,0.017012,0.00094,0.008077,0.001432,0.001276,-0.00406,0.013788,-0.020069,-0.01156,0.025244,0.004375,-0.002738,0.003421,-0.005656,0.008504,0.001497,0.002102,0.002095,0.005181,-0.002874
Durotrigian:WBK18,0.132035,0.126941,0.060339,0.048127,0.043393,0.01255,0.00047,0.004846,0.007567,0.007472,-0.01153,0.012289,-0.017839,-0.021744,0.021037,0.02559,0.005215,0.001647,-0.002891,0.001751,0.01123,-0.003091,0.001356,0.016749,0.000239
Durotrigian:WBK19,0.135449,0.139128,0.059962,0.038437,0.047701,0.017291,0.00705,0.002308,0.013908,0.009659,-0.002111,0.005095,-0.018731,-0.007569,0.014251,0.000398,-0.004563,0.000633,0.004651,0.002251,0.005615,-0.000247,-0.006039,0.005663,0.006586
Durotrigian:WBK20,0.127482,0.137096,0.062979,0.044897,0.043085,0.016176,0,-0.003923,0.012476,0.014761,-0.005034,0.005695,-0.012339,-0.011147,0.0095,0.000398,-0.002086,0.00114,-0.002388,0.006128,0.006364,-0.000618,-0.004067,-0.003735,0.005269
Durotrigian:WBK21,0.126344,0.137096,0.054305,0.043282,0.029544,0.013945,0.004935,0.009692,0.012885,0.010387,-0.00747,0.004946,-0.01219,0,0.018865,0.001989,-0.027772,0.00228,-0.005531,-0.002126,0.008235,0.002349,-0.008134,0.007832,0.000838
Durotrigian:WBK22,0.132035,0.132019,0.059585,0.042959,0.0437,0.014781,0.00235,0.010153,0.011453,0.008565,-0.010555,0.003897,-0.010406,-0.012386,0.022394,0.019623,0.009779,-0.004814,0.003142,0.003627,0.010482,-0.004328,-0.007641,0.008435,-0.000718
Durotrigian:WBK23,0.126344,0.149283,0.056191,0.044897,0.042777,0.015897,-0.0047,0.006923,0.012476,0.009659,-0.000812,0.004646,-0.010852,-0.014038,0.012215,0.006364,-0.00326,0.00076,0,0.006753,0.002246,0.000618,0.001849,0.000241,-0.006227
Durotrigian:WBK24,0.118376,0.129988,0.062225,0.045866,0.044931,0.018965,-0.001175,0.003923,0.003272,0.001822,-0.002436,0.01094,-0.022745,-0.007707,0.019408,-0.016176,-0.011865,0.0019,0.007542,0.001751,0.009234,-0.001484,0.001109,0.001807,-0.00479
Durotrigian:WBK25,0.127482,0.13405,0.057699,0.047158,0.044008,0.024542,-0.00235,0.013384,0.017589,0.012574,-0.009419,0.01169,-0.015461,-0.015138,0.023751,0.003182,-0.024251,0.004941,0.012318,-0.001251,0.001373,0.001113,-0.007641,0.011568,-0.003233
Durotrigian:WBK26,0.136588,0.137096,0.050911,0.043928,0.043393,0.014781,-0.000705,0.005538,0.007158,0.000547,0.003085,0.005395,-0.017691,-0.013212,0.021037,-0.004375,-0.021774,0.002154,0.00088,0.002251,0,0.002844,0.002835,0.002892,-0.000718
Durotrigian:WBK27,0.117238,0.141159,0.053928,0.049742,0.061242,0.011713,0.003055,-0.009692,-0.000614,0.005832,0.010718,0.008093,-0.020961,-0.018029,0.016558,0.009812,0.017211,-0.003421,0.002137,0.01063,0.029074,0.01694,-0.002465,0.009519,0.001437
Durotrigian:WBK29,0.122929,0.129988,0.053551,0.04522,0.045547,0.012829,0.004465,0.001846,0.007976,0.01385,-0.001624,0.006894,-0.011893,-0.018304,0.019137,0.019225,0.008605,-0.004307,-0.002137,0.011255,0.007487,-0.002473,-0.005546,0.012411,-0.003712
Durotrigian:WBK30,0.126344,0.138112,0.072784,0.049742,0.050163,0.020917,0.005875,-0.000231,0.010022,0.006925,0.005684,0.000599,-0.012636,-0.009083,0.015608,-0.011933,-0.027381,0.000507,0.003645,0.001376,0.013975,-0.000371,-0.007148,0.001325,0.011017
Durotrigian:WBK31,0.132035,0.129988,0.061094,0.047481,0.039084,0.023985,0.001175,0.002538,0.004909,0.007654,-0.003735,0.001049,-0.018583,-0.018166,0.02348,0.013657,0.00691,-0.000887,-0.003645,0.012131,0.009358,0.002226,-0.000123,0.008796,0.000599
Durotrigian:WBK32,0.132035,0.128972,0.058077,0.020672,0.047393,-0.00251,0.00329,-0.004846,0.020248,0.00492,-0.008607,0.01079,-0.007433,-0.016377,0.006107,0.016971,0.006519,0.000127,-0.006536,0.004002,-0.012977,-0.00915,-0.00912,0.008194,0.005748
Durotrigian:WBK33,0.127482,0.13405,0.055437,0.040698,0.042162,0.016455,0.00188,0.003923,0.006545,0.006196,-0.002761,0.015436,-0.013528,-0.015827,0.013301,0.005304,-0.009518,-0.000887,-0.004399,0.005253,0.013102,0.012365,-0.005423,0.007712,-0.000718
Durotrigian:WBK34,0.129758,0.140143,0.052797,0.043605,0.038776,0.013666,0.010105,0.005307,0.002659,0.01057,-0.012666,0.004796,-0.016055,-0.021607,0.013572,0.023999,0.00678,-0.002154,0.001006,0.006628,0.004866,-0.00136,-0.000863,0.00735,-0.001317
Durotrigian:WBK35,0.111547,0.12491,0.069013,0.03876,0.040007,0.015618,-0.019036,0.001385,0.018816,0.002734,-0.000162,0.003747,-0.018137,-0.016102,0.017372,0.036064,0.004042,0.002027,0.004651,0.002626,0.002745,-0.003833,-0.004314,0.007109,0.002874
Durotrigian:WBK36,0.133173,0.140143,0.062225,0.049742,0.037238,0.018407,0.00282,0.006461,0.006136,0.009476,-0.001137,0.008692,-0.013974,-0.021056,0.016694,0.012861,-0.008475,-0.005321,0.002891,0.001251,0.005615,0.003215,-0.004807,0.00494,0.001078
Durotrigian:WBK39,0.122929,0.133034,0.056945,0.050388,0.051086,0.02008,0,0.001846,0.003272,-0.007836,-0.007957,0.014987,-0.01665,-0.020643,0.019001,0.008486,-0.01682,-0.009122,-0.008547,0.007003,-0.002246,0.005688,-0.003081,0.006145,0.000359
Durotrigian:WBK40,0.125205,0.141159,0.062979,0.046512,0.042469,0.020359,0.00517,0.01523,0.007976,0.010752,-0.002436,0.006145,-0.013231,-0.01968,0.022394,0.016839,0.0103,0.003674,-0.003394,0.008379,0.009234,0.008779,0.001232,-0.002289,0.001676
Durotrigian:WBK41,0.126344,0.14319,0.058831,0.038437,0.033237,0.011435,-0.000705,0.000231,0.01718,0.014397,-0.00682,0.015137,-0.015461,-0.012248,0.021037,-0.00411,-0.016168,0.010769,0.004902,-0.002126,0.000374,-0.001978,-0.003574,-0.001446,0.001796
Durotrigian:WBK42,0.136588,0.137096,0.058831,0.04845,0.036622,0.020917,0.00282,0.004384,0.014521,0.012574,-0.000812,0.009442,-0.022894,-0.017065,0.024158,0.012596,-0.001956,0.003927,0.001885,0.000625,0.007362,0.006554,0.006902,0.006386,0.005987
Durotrigian:WBK43,0.130897,0.13405,0.066373,0.039406,0.034776,0.017849,0.003525,0.005307,0.006545,0.010752,-0.003248,0.008542,-0.013825,-0.023396,0.021172,0.013922,0.002868,0.006841,-0.003017,0.012006,0.012852,-0.005935,0.002342,0.011568,0.002275
Durotrigian:WBK101,0.129758,0.136081,0.069767,0.050388,0.041546,0.020359,0,0.000462,0.007363,0.008565,-0.009743,0.006444,-0.013082,-0.022295,0.020494,0.009812,-0.006389,-0.002407,0.003268,0.008129,0.008984,0.000371,-0.011585,0.009881,-0.006347
Durotrigian:WBK103,0.127482,0.140143,0.072784,0.047481,0.038161,0.02008,0.00752,0.001385,0.005931,0.014214,-0.008769,0.003147,-0.014717,-0.012661,0.022394,0.011933,-0.00665,0.001774,0.003017,0.005253,0.005865,0.005935,-0.004807,0.008796,0.003113
Durotrigian:WBK105,0.134311,0.147252,0.055437,0.042636,0.045239,0.01506,-0.002115,0.006231,0.00634,0.009112,-0.003735,0.01124,-0.015015,-0.025185,0.018865,0.013789,0.010561,-0.006714,-0.00176,0.005253,0.003494,0.005317,-0.001602,0.000964,-0.005868
Durotrigian:WBK106,0.118376,0.13405,0.050534,0.044251,0.038776,0.011156,-0.008695,-0.005538,0.005113,0.000547,0.003085,0.013038,-0.014271,-0.01913,0.020222,0.003845,-0.01682,-0.002534,0.008422,0.01063,0.008485,0.001978,-0.008258,0.005422,-0.004311
Durotrigian:WBK107,0.113823,0.139128,0.06939,0.051357,0.038469,0.034025,0.019506,0.002769,-0.003886,-0.00328,-0.00065,-0.002248,-0.018434,-0.006331,0.00475,-0.007425,-0.006389,0.005068,0.003394,0.004877,0.003868,0.006059,-0.010476,-0.004217,0.005628
Durotrigian:WBK108,0.119514,0.129988,0.04978,0.044897,0.040007,0.015339,0.001175,0.002077,0.003068,0.007836,-0.016888,0.006594,-0.014569,-0.019955,0.022937,0.018828,0.004172,0.012922,0.004274,0.003001,-0.000873,-0.002226,-0.008258,0.015183,0.002275
Durotrigian:WBK191,0.133173,0.14319,0.067127,0.047481,0.036007,0.016733,-0.000235,0.014307,0.002863,-0.009476,-0.008444,0.009292,-0.019029,-0.012386,0.019137,-0.000796,-0.024512,-0.004814,0.001257,0.006503,0.016097,0.009892,-0.000616,0.014942,-0.003473
Durotrigian:WBK192,0.125205,0.147252,0.061094,0.043928,0.026774,0.009482,0.001175,0.022614,0.00634,0.007836,-0.010718,0.003147,-0.030178,-0.011973,0.015879,-0.001591,-0.005737,-0.004687,-0.006662,0.010005,0.009982,0.004699,-0.002711,0.003012,0.007305
Durotrigian:WBK195,0.136588,0.13405,0.05242,0.035207,0.05201,0.017012,0.000705,0.009692,0.016975,0.014761,-0.005521,0.009891,-0.012339,-0.007982,0.012622,0.014054,0.013169,0.000127,-0.006788,0.013882,0.002745,-0.001731,-0.003697,0.013978,-0.010059
Durotrigian:WBK196,0.126344,0.13405,0.059585,0.040375,0.039084,0.031794,-0.00376,-0.000923,0.015135,0.012757,-0.010393,0.009442,-0.020961,-0.020643,0.015879,0.012198,0.017211,0.000633,-0.001006,-0.001126,0.001872,0.007543,-0.012571,0.018677,0.010658

References

• 1. Cassidy, L.M., et al. (2025).
  Continental influx and pervasive matrilocality in Iron Age Britain.
  Nature, 629, 718–730.
  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08409-6

•  2. Fischer, C.-E., et al. (2018).
  The multiple maternal legacy of the Late Iron Age group of Urville-Nacqueville (France, Normandy) documents a long-standing genetic contact zone in northwestern France.
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 167(3), 478–488.
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329455807

•  3. Fischer, C.-E., et al. (2022).
  Origin and mobility of Iron Age Gaulish groups in present-day France revealed through archaeogenomics.
  iScience, 25(7), 104479.
  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004222003649