Title: Unearthing History: Scientists Discover 4,000-Year-Old Plague DNA in Britain
As archaeological research continues to push the boundaries of our understanding of ancient life, scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Britain. They have unearthed the DNA of the oldest evidence of plague in the country, dating back to 4,000 years ago. Let’s delve deeper into this discovery and what it means for our understanding of plague history.
What is Plague?
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia Pestis, was one of the deadliest pandemics worldwide, with a death toll estimated to be between 75 and 200 million people from the 14th to the 17th centuries. The symptoms of the disease include fever, weakness, and the emergence of buboes (swollen lymph nodes) that can lead to septicemia or lung infection; leading to death in a few days without treatment.
Discovery of 4,000-year-old Plague DNA in UK:
The ancient DNA of Yersinia pestis was discovered in the Britain Bronze Age-period remains, which covers the period of 2,800 BC to 1,000 BC. Radiocarbon dating confirmed their age. Even though the studied samples of teeth only represent a small sample of the ancient population, they revealed that the plague had been present in the country for at least 500 years.
Insights from the Discovery:
1. Dispersal of the disease: The discovery means that plague was present in Britain more than 3,000 years before the Black Death outbreak, which swept through Europe in the 14th century and claimed millions of lives. The new findings push back the appearance of the plague in Europe by almost 1,000 years, and its spread is closer to the Neolithic period than it is to the second pandemic period (mid-14th century) in Europe.
2. Origins of the disease: The discovery also sheds light on the origins of the disease by suggesting that the Bronze Age was when the pathogen evolved into its modern form, by mingling with other bacterial strains in Europe between 4,000 and 3,000 years ago.
3. Migration and Trade Negotiations: This discovery gives us an insight into the movement of people and social network relationships of ancient Britain. According to the genetic variation on the samples, scientists say that the spread of the pathogen was less likely caused by war and more likely due to trade negotiations and migrations.
4. The ability of Y. pestis to survive over centuries: Researchers were amazed at how well-preserved the DNA of Y. pestis was in the teeth of the remains. This discovery will help uncover more on how other ancient pathogens have managed to survive over the years, and unearthing the possibility of their potential global resurgence.
In conclusion, this is the world’s oldest-known evidence of the presence of plague in the UK, making it a significant milestone globally. The discovery of 4,000-Year-Old Plague DNA in Britain is an indication of how much there is yet to unearth about our history through DNA discoveries. It is an example of how scientists can use historical DNA to come up with new conclusions and help us better understand the evolution of diseases.
Summary:
Scientists have discovered the DNA of the oldest evidence of plague in Britain, dating back to 4,000 years ago, in Bronze Age-period remains. The discovery pushes the appearance of the plague in Europe and its spread much closer to the Neolithic period (4,000-2,500 BC) and even suggests that the Bronze Age was when the pathogen evolved into its modern form, by mingling with other bacterial strains in Europe. The discovery has given us insight into the origins and movement of people and social network relationships of ancient Britain and how pathogens can survive over centuries. This discovery is an indication of how much there is yet to unearth about our history through DNA discoveries.
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Scientists discover 4,000-year-old plague DNA, the oldest evidence of the disease in Britain.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-65759673?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA
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