Wednesday, March 5, 2008

There really is no 'Melungeon or Anatolian bump"

From Joanne Pezzullo's Research


There really is no 'Melungeon bump." The "anatolian bump" is actually a
PRONOUNCED EXTERNAL OCCIPITAL PROTUBERANCE or EOP and it does not mean you
"
have ancestry from the Anatolian regions that are now Turkey" as has been
reported over the years. There is a higher incidence in that region but it
is found in Germans, Asians, and Africans. I know of no report that suggests
Melungeon descendants have a higher average of this Pronounced EOP than
compared to other groups. Actually it is reported;

"
As this trait relates to activities and muscle development, physical labor
will affect EOP development. Increased physical activity (e.g., to plow
arable fields, to reap and carry crops) may explain some of the observed
differences.'' [See article below]


Nadir Gülekon,1 M.D., Ph.D. and H. Basri Turgut,1 Ph.D.

The External Occipital Protuberance: Can It Be Used as a Criterion in the
Determination of Sex?

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

''
It is known that the EOP can show shape differences in various
populations. The incidence of a prominent EOP has been reported to be 10.9%
in Germans, 8.3% in Asians, 8.3% in Americans, 4.4% in Africans, 1.2% in
Egyptians, and 0.0% in Australians (1). The incidence of the EOP is found
higher in the Anatolian population (in general, 33.8% in the modern and
32.8% in the historic samples) compared with other populations. As this
trait relates to activities and muscle development, physical labor will
affect EOP development. Increased physical activity (e.g., to plow arable
fields, to reap and carry crops) may explain some of the observed
differences.''


http://books.google.com/books?id=EWc7d22_UMYC&pg=PA147&lpg=PA147&dq=pronounc
ed+external+occipital+protuberance&source=web&ots=Pe5coLXOb8&sig=OyeeHk33lpc
kqWz3hueaGxWnkqY




11 comments:

Anonymous said...

So ethnic groups do not travel across continents?

Glenn said...

Granting that the presence or absence of "the bump" is not determinative, I suggest you short-change the significance. The source you cite establishes that 34% of Anatolians have the bump, but it is only present in 4% of Africans and 1% of Egyptians. (rounded numbers). Hence, if the sole basis upon which one might determine ancestry was the presence or absence "the bump", it would be foolish to dismiss it as irrelevant. Further, as the bump appears most strongly correlated with Anatolian ancestry... there most certainly is an "Anatolian bump."

(Let me reiterate that, I do not suggest it is singularly determinative).

Further... the work you cite does not imply that the PEOP (Anatolian bump) is *purely* the result of increased physical activity. Your quote says as much when it notes that activity may explain "some" of the differences. More completely, "the formation of the tori and tubercles studies, their presence and position, may result from a specific genetic basis for them, while the degree of expression may be explained as the result of interdependent... developmental patterns of stress." (Zahr, 195). In short, the presence or absence of the Anatolian bump is epigenetic. (Zahr, 182). That fact, of course, is rather meaningless unless one can suggest why Anatolians, as a group, develop so different from Africans, Egyptians and other generalized groups.

I think I should close by emphasizing what I can not quibble with... I do not know of any studies showing that Melungeon descendants have a greater likelihood of having "the bump."

Anonymous said...

I have Melungeon ancestry. Proven ancestry not something I've goggled, descendent from Vardy community, from both parents. No one in my family has the bump, with the exception of my mother. Also a nurse and was very curious about the percentage of people that have it. During physical exams, I have found numbers of people with the bump, and most probably have no link to Melungeon ancestry. What region does it come from, think no one really knows. We are so mixed as people now, if its Asian in origin, lots of people will have it. If its African on Origin many people will have it, etc. We're so mixed now, its probably not traceable. It's not solely a Melungeon trait.

itsybitsyknitts said...

I am a nurse too and I have a very prominent one?I am from Northern England...probably not Turkey,though t might explain why Turkey is my favorite place to holiday

Anonymous said...

This structure, along with twin ridges protruding from the shoulder blades can be traced to Melungeon, Mayan, and Egyption cultures, who worshipped "beinfs from the stars" or space in common english. These highly defined bone protrusions are seen frequently in their depictions of the "gods" and kings. These genetic markers then later became present in more races, due to our species love of mating. Often individuals with these bone anomalies show higher than average iq and problem solving skills. It is mainly genetic, although the noticeably varies on body muscle tone. Just a little food for thought for you all.

Historical Melungeons said...

There is no suggestion, much less proof, of any kind, that Mayans, Egyptians and Melungeons have any genetic connection.

Unknown said...

I've read through the Lahr (not Zahr) reference that was provided and can find no statistics or mention of EOP. Am i missing something??? Please send me the actual references and page numbers if you have them.

Historical Melungeons said...

Matt; In the original citation, the URL quoted was http://aafs.micronexx.com/PDF/JOFS/JFS2002183_483/JFS2002183_483.pdf

It is no longer a working URL.

You can find some info here:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/External_occipital_protuberance

Unknown said...

I have a bump and my dad was from eastern Kentucky. We go back to George Sizemore twice. I saw a show many years ago and blew it off until I did my dna. I go back to Turkey and thought I was Irish and a little Native American. Apparently there is something to it, dna doesn't lie.

Historical Melungeons said...

Brian; Would love to discuss your DNA results with you. I also descend from the Sizemores. My ancestor was George of Ashe county, NC, a cousin to yours. So we are related. :-) My DNA does not show any Turkish.

See this article. It explains a lot.

http://ambnotes.blogspot.com/2015/09/dna-study-busts-myth-that-one-million.html

Unknown said...

I also go back to George Sizemore and I have the bump too .