Ancient Plague: The Hidden Culprit of Europe's Neolithic Decline

New research suggests that the plague might have caused the Neolithic decline in Northern Europe around 5,000 years ago. DNA from human remains in Scandinavia revealed three distinct plague waves, possibly spreading person to person. These findings reshape the understanding of this historical collapse.

New research based on ancient DNA indicates that the plague might have been responsible for the Neolithic decline in Northern Europe around 5,000 years ago. This groundbreaking study, published in the journal Science, examined DNA from human bones and teeth found in Scandinavian tombs.

The remains, studied from various sites in Sweden and Denmark, showed that 17% of the 108 individuals analyzed were infected with plague when they died, with the disease likely spreading in epidemic waves. Researchers reconstructed the genomes of the plague-causing bacterium Yersinia pestis, tracing its evolution and its potential for human-to-human transmission.

The findings suggest that the Neolithic population collapse involved multiple waves of plague, predating the well-known Justinian Plague and Black Death. The study also provided insights into the community dynamics of that era, revealing patterns of familial relationships and reproductive behaviors.

(With inputs from agencies.)