The Messapii were an ancient tribe that inhabited, in historical times, the south-eastern peninsula or "heel" of Italy (Salento, modern Apulia), known variously in ancient times as Calabria, Messapia and Iapygia. Messapian may have been one of the Illyrian languages, which were spoken mainly on the other side of the Adriatic Sea. This speculation is based on personal names found on tomb inscriptions and on classical references, since hardly any traces of the Illyrian language are left
Sample :
Brief anthropological analysis :
- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (dark chestnut hair, light eyes, ...), leptomorphic, rather narrow face, long and narrow high-rooted convex nose, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ Dinaromorphic Mediterranean
This type belongs to very classical pan-Italian type already identified in many Italian provincie. Funnily enough, those individuals seem to be lighter than what one could expect for such a southern area.
- Type 2 : Dark complexion (black hair, dark eyes, ...), brachymorphic, square-box face, little low-rooted nose that can get snub-tipped, rather wide set eyes
~ Alpinoid
Once more, a very classical type abundantly found throughout the peninsula. Puffy features are somehow generalized and contrary to the first type, sampled individuals seem to be overwhelmingly dark with some exceptions.
Brief anthropological analysis :
- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (dark chestnut hair, light eyes, ...), leptomorphic, rather narrow face, long and narrow high-rooted convex nose, close set eyes, large jaw, pointy chin
~ Dinaromorphic Mediterranean
This type belongs to very classical pan-Italian type already identified in many Italian provincie. Funnily enough, those individuals seem to be lighter than what one could expect for such a southern area.- Type 2 : Dark complexion (black hair, dark eyes, ...), brachymorphic, square-box face, little low-rooted nose that can get snub-tipped, rather wide set eyes
~ Alpinoid
Once more, a very classical type abundantly found throughout the peninsula. Puffy features are somehow generalized and contrary to the first type, sampled individuals seem to be overwhelmingly dark with some exceptions.
- Final morphotypes :
