Researchers have uncovered the long-standing enigma surrounding the burial of numerous deceased children by ancient hunter-gatherers in Russia 5,500 years ago. The cause was attributed to an early outbreak of the plague, shedding light on the disease’s historical significance.
A recent study published in Nature by an international team of scientists, including Canadian researchers, revealed that the bacterium Yersinia pestis, notorious for the Black Death in the 14th century, was already lethal to humans millennia earlier. This ancient strain of the plague was found to have affected hunter-gatherer communities, not just densely populated settlements.
Lead author of the study, Ruairidh Macleod, a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford University, expressed astonishment at the discovery of large-scale plague outbreaks among these early societies. The research was spearheaded by Andrzej Weber, a professor of anthropology at the University of Alberta, and Angela Lieverse, a professor of archaeology at the University of Saskatchewan, who have been studying ancient remains near Lake Baikal in Russia for decades.
Initial observations of an unusually high number of child burials at the archaeological site prompted further investigation. By analyzing human bones, Lieverse identified age and sex characteristics, revealing a predominance of children under 12. Collaboration with ancient DNA specialist Macleod led to the identification of the plague bacterium in the remains, marking a significant breakthrough in understanding the ancient outbreak.
The researchers discovered that this strain of plague was particularly lethal to children due to a unique superantigen that triggered severe inflammatory responses, similar to Kawasaki syndrome. Despite lacking genes for flea transmission, this strain was highly infectious among humans, causing devastating impacts on these ancient communities.
The findings challenge previous assumptions about the spread of plague in early human societies and underscore the importance of studying ancient pathogens to anticipate future threats. Lieverse emphasized the poignant narrative revealed by the remains, highlighting the tragic toll the disease took on young victims. This research provides valuable insights into the evolution of deadly pathogens and their potential implications for future public health challenges.
