Ancient DNA Reveals Plague Outbreak in Siberia 5,500 Years Ago

1-Minute Brief

This discovery pushes back the timeline of known plague outbreaks and may inform understanding of how deadly pathogens emerge.

Key Facts

• Ancient DNA from hunter-gatherer graves in south-eastern Siberia shows evidence of plague outbreaks about 5,500 years ago.
• The findings suggest the earliest known plague occurred at least 200 years earlier than previously documented.
• Dozens of individuals, including children, were buried in late Stone Age cemeteries linked to these outbreaks.
• Scientists believe the bacterium responsible may have originated from raw marmots, according to The Guardian.
• The evidence challenges earlier theories that the ancient plague was mild.

What Happened

Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from prehistoric graves in south-eastern Siberia, identifying the oldest known outbreak of plague among hunter-gatherer communities approximately 5,500 years ago.

Why It Matters

The findings revise the historical timeline of the plague and provide new insights into the evolution and spread of deadly diseases, which may help scientists understand how future pathogens could emerge.

What's Next

Further research is expected to investigate the origins and transmission routes of the ancient plague bacterium, as well as its impact on prehistoric populations.