5,000-year-old DNA finds 17% Neolithic individuals in Sweden and Denmark had ancient plague, supporting plague's role in first farmers' collapse.
5,000-year-old DNA from 108 Neolithic individuals in Sweden and Denmark indicates that an ancient form of the plague may have been widespread, contributing to the mysterious collapse of Europe's first farmers. The study reveals that 17% of the individuals were infected with Yersinia pestis when they died, supporting the idea that the plague played a significant role in the Neolithic decline.
July 10, 2024
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