Ancient DNA provides evidence of earliest known plague outbreak
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of a plague outbreak in Siberia dating back 5,500 years, likely caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium. The study suggests the disease spread through hunter-gatherer communities, particularly affecting children, after contact with infected marmots.
Why it matters
This discovery provides critical insights into the evolutionary history of the plague and its impact on ancient human populations.
The skull of an approximately 10-year-old girl that was discovered at the Ust-Ida burial ground. Photograph: Angela Lieverse View image in fullscreen The skull of an approximately 10-year-old girl that was discovered at the Ust-Ida burial ground. Photograph: Angela Lieverse Archaeology Ancient DNA provides evidence of earliest known plague outbreak Discovery in Siberia suggests bacterium from raw marmots devastated hunter-gatherer tribes about 5,500 years ago
The article is a straightforward scientific report based on archaeological findings.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in