Ancient teeth from Siberia rewrite the plague’s timeline, dating back to over 5,500 years ago
Summary
Scientists discovered the oldest evidence of the plague in Siberia, showing it existed about 5,500 years ago—200 years earlier than previously known. They found plague DNA in the teeth of ancient hunter-gatherers, suggesting the disease spread from animals and between people long ago.Key Facts
- Plague DNA was found in teeth from 18 ancient hunter-gatherers near Siberia’s Lake Baikal.
- The plague caused outbreaks starting around 5,500 years ago, earlier than former estimates.
- The disease likely spread from marmots, large rodents, through contact or eating raw organs.
- The plague also spread between people via coughing and sneezing.
- Victims included many children between 8 and 11 years old.
- Multiple family members were buried together, showing social bonds even after death.
- This ancient plague evolved before the bubonic plague of the Black Death in medieval Europe.
- Understanding ancient plagues helps scientists learn how dangerous diseases develop and may emerge again.
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