Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Oldest Evidence of Plague Found in Britain by Researchers

Oldest Evidence of plague in Britain

The first proof of the epidemic in the nation was discovered by researchers in Britain, where they discovered DNA dating back 4,000 years.

Three cases of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the plague, were found in human bones, two of which were found in a mass grave in Somerset and one of which was found in a ring cairn memorial in Cumbria.

The scientists collected tiny bone samples from 34 people in order to check for Yersinia pestis in the teeth.

Examining the dental pulp was done because it contains infectious disease DNA.

To make the discovery, scientists from the Francis Crick Institute collaborated with researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Levens Local History Group, and Wells and Mendip Museum.

“The ability to detect ancient pathogens from degraded samples, from thousands of years ago, is incredible,” first author and PhD candidate Pooja Swali said.

“These genomes can give us information on the historical distribution and evolutionary changes of pathogens, and they may also make it clearer which genes may play a role in the development of infectious diseases.

“We observe that this Yersinia pestis lineage, including genomes from this study, loses genes over time, a pattern that has emerged with later epidemics caused by the same pathogen,” the study’s authors write.

The experts also looked at the DNA and found three cases of Yersinia pestis. Two of the victims were children who were between 10 and 12 years old when they died, and the third was a woman between the ages of 35 and 45.

Based on what was found, it seems likely that all three people lived around the same time.

Researchers think that people moving into Eurasia around 4800 BP brought this type of the plague, called the late Neolithic and Bronze Age lineage, into Central and Western Europe.

Now, this study shows that it went all the way to Britain.


Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Related Articles

Top Trending

Top Vegetarian Destinations
Top Veggie Paradises: Discover the World's Best Vegetarian Destinations
Female Pokemon Characters
A Complete List of 30 Top Female Pokemon Characters in the Universe
skylene montgomery age
Skylene Montgomery Age: Everything You Need to Know About Sean Payton's Wife
Disney Plus Hulu Merge Streaming Service
Disney Plus & Hulu Merger: More Than Just a Streaming Bundle
Elden Ring Endings Explained
Elden Ring Endings Explained: A Comprehensive Guide in 2024

LIFESTYLE

Tips to Help You Find Confidence
Five Quick Tips to Help You Find Confidence
Top Countries Where Weddings Cost a Fortune
Top Countries Where Weddings Cost a Fortune: A Global Ranking
Why Finland world Happiest Country
Unveiling the Secrets: Why Finland is the World's Happiest Country?
paul giamatti weight loss
The Ultimate Guide to Paul Giamatti's Impressive Weight Loss Journey
Best-Selling Perfumes in History
Discover the Best-Selling Perfumes in History: Timeless Fragrances

Entertainment

Female Pokemon Characters
A Complete List of 30 Top Female Pokemon Characters in the Universe
Disney Plus Hulu Merge Streaming Service
Disney Plus & Hulu Merger: More Than Just a Streaming Bundle
Elden Ring Endings Explained
Elden Ring Endings Explained: A Comprehensive Guide in 2024
meteorite staff elden ring location
Ultimate Guide to Finding the Meteorite Staff Location in Elden Ring
did joni lamb remarry
Did Joni Lamb Remarry According to Biblical Principles?

GAMING

Elden Ring Endings Explained
Elden Ring Endings Explained: A Comprehensive Guide in 2024
meteorite staff elden ring location
Ultimate Guide to Finding the Meteorite Staff Location in Elden Ring
isolated divine tower elden ring
How to Solve the Mystery of the Isolated Divine Tower Elden Ring
Casino Books to Keep You Hooked
Casino Books to Keep You Hooked!
AI for Competitive Advantage in iGaming
Leveraging AI for Competitive Advantage in iGaming

BUSINESS

bill gates india global advancement
Bill Gates Highlights India as Crucial to Worldwide Advancement
Rafaela Nonnenmacher Bundchen
Rafaela Nonnenmacher Bündchen: The Youngest of Gisele Bündchen's Siblings
Chiefs Owner Net Worth
Chiefs Owner Net Worth Breakdown in 2024 [Latest Update]
Bitcoin Holding Despite Low Activity
Bitcoin's Standstill: Low On-Chain Activity Yet No Rush to Sell, Says Analyst
Reddit AI User Data Stock Soar
Unlocking Reddit's Success: How AI Data Boosted Its Stock?

TECHNOLOGY

How Many Wheels Are There in the World
How Many Wheels Are There in the World? The Ultimate Investigation
Ideas for QR Codes
Creative Design Ideas for QR Codes
Saudi-Owned Moroccan Plant's $47M Breakdown
Solar Power Setback: Saudi-Owned Moroccan Plant's $47M Breakdown
Building Blocks
Exploring Multichain Future: The New Era of Blockchain Building Blocks
Apple Partners with Baidu for AI Solutions
Apple Partners with Baidu for AI Solutions: Inside the Tech Giant's Move

HEALTH

Top Vegetarian Destinations
Top Veggie Paradises: Discover the World's Best Vegetarian Destinations
brandon and mary
The Misconceptions Surrounding Brandon and Mary's Health Announcement
Luxury Depression Treatment
7 Reasons to Opt for Luxury Depression Treatment and How to Choose One?
Best Travel Jobs
11 Best Travel Jobs to Consider in 2024
Tips to Help You Find Confidence
Five Quick Tips to Help You Find Confidence