Ruairidh Macleod

Scientists discovered the oldest known evidence of the plague in Siberian teeth dating back 5,500 years, revealing two outbreaks linked to marmot transmission and affecting small families, including children. The study, published in Nature, challenges prior timelines and highlights the plague's prehistoric evolution.

Scientists discovered the oldest evidence of plague in Siberian teeth dating back 5,500 years, revealing two outbreaks caused by a prehistoric strain of the disease. The plague spread from marmots to humans and affected small families, with many victims being children aged 8 to 11.

Ancient DNA analysis from Siberian hunter-gatherers reveals the oldest known plague outbreaks in humans, dating back 5,500 years. The study, published in Nature, shows plague caused by Yersinia pestis devastated prehistoric communities at Lake Baikal, with children aged 8-11 most affected.