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Discoveries
Ancient DNA Links Plague to Deaths 5,500 Years Ago in Siberia
Ancient DNA from hunter-gatherer cemeteries near Lake Baikal has revealed Yersinia pestis in 18 of 46 individuals studied. Researchers say the evidence, combined with radiocarbon dating and burial patterns, indicates that early plague strains could be highly lethal before the emergence of cities and flea-borne transmission.
Sep 8, 2026
Bioarchaeology
Ancient DNA Identifies Early Plague Outbreaks in Siberian Hunter-Gatherers
DNA from remains found at four Late Stone Age cemeteries along Siberia’s Angara River indicates two plague outbreaks beginning about 5,500 years ago. The findings may explain why children and family groups were heavily represented among those buried at the sites.
Sep 8, 2026