Editing Melungeon (section)

===Myths===
Dispute regarding the origin of Melungeons families has led to a large number of ahistorical and dubious myths regarding their origins. Some myths involve physical characteristics and genetic diseases that are claimed to indicate Melungeon descent, such as [[shovel-shaped incisors]], an [[Occipital bun|Anatolian bump]], [[Familial Mediterranean fever]], [[polydactyly]], [[dark skin]] with [[Eye color|bright colored eyes]], and [[Zygomatic bone|high cheekbones]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Chresfield |first=Michell |title=Genetics, Health and the Making of America's Triracial Isolates, 1950–80 |date=2022 |work=The Edinburgh Companion to the Politics of American Health |pages=459–475 |editor-last=Halliwell |editor-first=Martin |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/edinburgh-companion-to-the-politics-of-american-health/genetics-health-and-the-making-of-americas-triracial-isolates-195080/3A703AC97FB8D189B8C66834166B392C |access-date=2024-08-14 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=978-1-4744-5098-0 |editor2-last=Jones |editor2-first=Sophie A.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Loller |first=Travis |title=DNA study pops myths of Appalachia's Melungeons |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/state/2012/05/25/dna-study-pops-myths-appalachia/49621497007/ |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Schrift" />

Other myths claim that the Melungeons are descendants of lost [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] colonists, marooned [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] sailors,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-10 |title=The Origins of the Melungeons |url=https://lcgsco.org/the-origins-of-the-melungeons/ |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Larimer County Genealogical Society |language=en-US}}</ref> descendants of the [[ancient Israelites]] or [[Phoenicia]]ns,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melungeons in Virginia |url=http://www.virginiaplaces.org/population/melungeon.html#:~:text=It%20was%20proven%20by%20the,time%20of%20our%20revolutionary%20war, |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=www.virginiaplaces.org}}</ref> [[Romani people|Romani]] slaves, or [[Turkic peoples|Turkish]] settlers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sassounian |first=Harut |author-link=Harut Sassounian |date=2012-07-25 |title=Sassounian: DNA Study Busts Myth that One Million Appalachians Are of Turkish Descent |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2012/07/25/sassounian-dna-study-busts-myth-that-one-million-appalachians-are-of-turkish-descent/ |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=The Armenian Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref>