Linguistic Archaeology: Finding Middle Earth (part 2)

The 43% Group

1. Midden ierede
2. Tierra media
3. Terra-media
4. Mett aerd
5. Midden aarde
6. Terra media

Popularity of use

A         %         E         %         I         %        O         %         U         %

5          83%    6          100%   5       83%     0          0%      0         0%

B         %         C         %         D         %        F         %         G         %
0          0%       0         0%       6         100%  0          0%      0          0%

H         %         J         %         K         %        L         %         M         %
0          0%       0         0%       0         0%      0         0%       6          100%

N         %         P         %         Q         %        R         %         S         %
2           33%    0          0%      0          0%      6         100%   0         100%

T         %         V         %         W         %        X         %         Y         %
4          66%     0         0%        0          0%      0         0%       0         0%

Z         %
0          0%


Popularity of Use
100% E, R, D, M:
83% A, I, E, R, D, M:
66% T, A, I, E, R, D, M: Terra media, Terra-media, Tierra media, Mett aerd
33% N, T, A, I, E, R, D, M: Midden ierede, Midden aarde
0% O, U, B, C, F, G, H, J, K, L, P, Q, S, V, W, X, Y, Z

Further analysis: Terra media and Terra-media (spanish & corsican) are the point of origin, with submigration to Mett Aerd and Tierra media (Luxembourgish & Portugese).

Middle earth originates as a concept in the Spain-Corsica region. Crossing the Misty Mountains happens in the Pyrenees.

So where is Mordor? The region is volcanic, but in the north of Spain the Pyrenees has volcanoes, mountain passes, and oddly enough a good fit for the inaccessible Mordor and Rohan.

The tales likely originate with a tribal conflict - between lowlands people and a mountain folk acessible only through narrow passes.

If the Mordor faction were hold up in the mountains when their volcano began to smoke, drawing the attention of a rival tribe, they would have perished in an eruption and subsequent conflict.

This story combined with a longer conflict between mountain-folk and low-landers gave rise to a tale of a larger conflict ending in an eruption and destruction of the tower of Sauron.