Ligurians Discussion

Dedicated for all DNA, Analysis Results, History, Research topics related to: Ligurians

Since the Bronze Age the Ligurians are considered to have occupied much of northwest Italy, southern France and parts of Catalonia. By Roman times they were referred to as Celto-Ligurians due to the heavy Celtic influence on their language, culture and population. Historians of the time describe them as having long hair with a shade of auburn (reddish-brown). Instead of a centralized state the territory was divided among independent tribes. Many hilltop forts and settlements, called oppida, were established in the region to protect key trade routes. The Greeks and Etruscans began their own expansion into the region which the Ligurians resisted. Later as the Romans began to expand their territory and in competition with Carthage, the Ligurians found themselves split into two factions - and ultimately weakened as a result. Liguria found itself drawn into a decades long conflict with Rome and tribe by tribe was forced to capitulate as Roman forces only grew in strength.