Jewish Exiles Migrated to America

[Rajah Manchou]

"Jewish communities existed in Iberia (Sepharad) since roman times and much of the peninsula was ruled by Arabs and Berbers for most of the Middle Ages, by the end of which large Sephardic communities had developed. Genetic studies have detected North and East Mediterranean ancestry in the current Spanish population, as well European admixture in the Sephardim. The estimates of North and East Mediterranean (including Sephardic) ancestry in Latin Americans obtained here represent values over and above those present in our sampled present-day Spanish individuals, suggesting migration of individuals with higher levels of such ancestry to Latin America. Columbus’ arrival to the New World in the late 15th century coincided with the expulsion of Jews from Iberia, with the non-Christians remaining being forced to convert to Christianity. Although these Conversos were forbidden from migrating to the colonies, historical records document that some individuals made the journey, in an attempt to avoid persecution. Since this was a clandestine process, the extent of Converso migration to Latin America is poorly documented. Genetic studies have provided suggestive evidence that certain Latin American populations, arguably with a peculiar history, could have substantial Converso ancestry. Our findings indicate that the genetic signature of Converso migration to Latin America is substantially more prevalent than suggested by these special cases, or by historical records." (source)

In summary, some Latin American populations have higher concentrations of Mediterranean admixture than is found in modern European/Spanish populations. This suggests that Jews migrated to South America in higher numbers than indicated in the historical record, in fact high enough to impact the facial structure and appearance of Andean populations.
 

Edited January 26, 2018 by Rajah Manchou

[RevTestament]

6 hours ago, Rajah Manchou said:

"Jewish communities existed in Iberia (Sepharad) since roman times and much of the peninsula was ruled by Arabs and Berbers for most of the Middle Ages, by the end of which large Sephardic communities had developed. Genetic studies have detected North and East Mediterranean ancestry in the current Spanish population, as well European admixture in the Sephardim. The estimates of North and East Mediterranean (including Sephardic) ancestry in Latin Americans obtained here represent values over and above those present in our sampled present-day Spanish individuals, suggesting migration of individuals with higher levels of such ancestry to Latin America. Columbus’ arrival to the New World in the late 15th century coincided with the expulsion of Jews from Iberia, with the non-Christians remaining being forced to convert to Christianity. Although these Conversos were forbidden from migrating to the colonies, historical records document that some individuals made the journey, in an attempt to avoid persecution. Since this was a clandestine process, the extent of Converso migration to Latin America is poorly documented. Genetic studies have provided suggestive evidence that certain Latin American populations, arguably with a peculiar history, could have substantial Converso ancestry. Our findings indicate that the genetic signature of Converso migration to Latin America is substantially more prevalent than suggested by these special cases, or by historical records." (source)

In summary, some Latin American populations have higher concentrations of Mediterranean admixture than is found in modern European/Spanish populations. This suggests that Jews migrated to South America in higher numbers than indicated in the historical record, in fact high enough to impact the facial structure and appearance of Andean populations.
 

I think this tends to support that Jews were in Tarshish. How? The Phoenicians were a related people who had trade routes that eventually went outside the Mediterranean. They found tin sources in England, and apparently Gold in Africa. To protect these valuable trade routes, I believe they made up the stories that if you sailed past the gate of Gibraltar, you would fall off the edge of the world. They of course did not want the Greeks to find these resources - nor later, the Romans. Tin was a very valuable trade commodity used to make bronze. Anyway, local Mediterranean peoples believed their stories for centuries until Christopher Columbus, LOL. 
Anyway, we know the Phoenicians were in Spain, and they probably were the ride used by the Jews such as Jonah. So you had Phoenicians and various Hebrew peoples in Spain for about 2000 years.

[Robert F. Smith]

It is true that Hebrew taršîš possibly refers to “refinery” ships,[1] or to Tartessus in Spain,[2] or both.  It is mentioned in an Isaiah quotation (2 Nephi 12:16 = Isaiah 2:16).

[1] David Baker, “Tarshish,” in Freedman, ed., Anchor Bible Dictionary, VI:332.

[2] LDS 1979 “Bible Dictionary,” 780.

However, the Conversos (forcible converts) in Spain included both Jews and non-Jews, who often migrated to the New World (Nueva Espana) so that they could continue their Jewish worship secretly.  Their genetic signature shows up in the Americas constantly.  See, for example, David Kelly, “DNA Clears the Fog Over Latino Links to Judaism in New Mexico,” Los Angeles Times, Dec 5, 2004, A32-33.  re Sepharditos (Spanish Jews) absorbed into general population of American Southwest in recent centuries, but still genetically discernable.