Ancient DNA reveals plague was already killing humans 5,500 years ago
New research indicates that the plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, was infecting and killing humans as early as 5,500 years ago. DNA analysis of remains in Siberia shows that these early strains were already highly lethal.
Why it matters
This discovery shifts the timeline of the plague's impact on human history, suggesting it predates the rise of large urban centers.
For many people, plague brings to mind rats, crowded medieval towns, and the devastating epidemics that spread across Europe during and after the Middle Ages.
The article reports on archaeological and genetic research findings.
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