Plague deadly even before farming's rise
Scientists have uncovered evidence of plague outbreaks among hunter-gatherers near Lake Baikal in Siberia dating back 5,500 years. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that the plague only became a major threat after humans began living in dense, crowded farming communities. The team analyzed ancient DNA, estimating an infection rate of 39%. Interestingly, the ancient plague strains lacked the specific genes needed for flea-borne transmission, suggesting that the disease spread directly from person to person during this prehistoric period, indicating a different transmission mechanism than later outbreaks.
Key Points
- Evidence suggests plague outbreaks occurred among hunter-gatherers 5,500 years ago in Siberia.
- This challenges the traditional view that plague became a major threat only with dense farming communities.
- Ancient DNA analysis revealed an estimated infection rate of 39% in the prehistoric population.
- The ancient plague strains lacked genes for flea-borne transmission, implying direct person-to-person spread.
- The findings provide new insights into the early history and transmission of the plague.
Exam Facts
- Plague outbreaks were found near Lake Baikal in Siberia.
- The evidence dates back 5,500 years.
- Ancient DNA analysis estimated an infection rate of 39%.
- The ancient strains lacked genes for flea-borne transmission.
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