Scientists working on archaeological sites in Siberia have uncovered the oldest evidence so far of plague, the disease behind some of the deadliest pandemics in human history. Traces of plague bacteria detected in ancient human teeth dated to around 5,500 years ago appear to push back the origin and spread of this lethal infection by roughly 200 years.
By analyzing genetic material extracted from the teeth, researchers identified some of the earliest known forms of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague. The finding sheds new light on the possible drivers behind population shifts and episodes of social collapse across Eurasia in the late Neolithic period.
Tracing an Epidemic in Prehistory
Genetic analyses suggest that the bacteria belong to an early stage in the evolution of plague, before it acquired the ability to spread efficiently via fleas. Specialists think transmission at this time likely occurred primarily through respiratory droplets or direct contact. The discovery underscores once again the role that the transition to sedentary life and the domestication of animals may have played in the emergence and spread of epidemic diseases.
Preserved under Siberia’s harsh climatic conditions, these tooth samples provide an exceptional resource for geneticists and archaeologists tracking the evolutionary history of ancient pathogens. The team plans to carry out similar studies on other human remains from the region in order to map more precisely the geographic routes along which the disease spread. For additional context and further reading see [1] [2] [3].
Sources and further reading
- [1] “Diné elders and healers recognized a recurring pattern related to ...
- [2] Science and Nature Forum - Lipstick Alley
- [3] Trump-backed Moore wins GOP runoff for US Senate in Alabama, as ...
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