Scientists have unraveled a long-standing enigma concerning the burial of numerous deceased children by ancient hunter-gatherers in Russia 5,500 years ago. The revelation indicates that these children fell victim to an early plague outbreak caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, shedding light on the disease’s historical impact.
A recent study published in Nature by an international team of scientists, which includes Canadian researchers, highlights that Yersinia pestis, notorious for triggering the Black Death in 14th-century Europe, demonstrated lethality to humans millennia earlier. Moreover, the bacterium exhibited the ability to spread within hunter-gatherer communities, not solely within densely populated settlements that emerged later.
Lead author of the study, postdoctoral researcher Ruairidh Macleod from Oxford University, expressed astonishment at the early evidence of large-scale plague outbreaks among these ancient societies. The research was conducted in collaboration with experts such as Andrzej Weber, an anthropology professor at the University of Alberta, and Angela Lieverse, an archaeology professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
The investigation, spanning over 40 years as part of the Baikal Archeology Project, focused on a prehistoric hunter-gatherer society near Lake Baikal in Russia. Remarkably, the analysis of human bones revealed a significant proportion of children under 12 years old buried at one archaeological site, a rarity in the region. This puzzling observation prompted the researchers to delve deeper into the cause behind the high child mortality rate.
Through meticulous bone analysis and pathogen testing, the team identified the presence of Yersinia pestis in the remains, leading to a crucial breakthrough. Notably, the strain of plague discovered was exceptionally lethal, particularly affecting children due to a unique “superantigen” capable of inducing severe inflammatory reactions, similar to Kawasaki syndrome.
The absence of genes facilitating the spread of bubonic plague through fleas distinguished this strain, underscoring its distinctive characteristics. The study’s findings also indicated a human-to-human transmission pattern during the Lake Baikal outbreak, emphasizing the devastating impact on small family groups within these ancient communities.
The researchers emphasized the significance of uncovering the evolutionary path of deadly pathogens like the plague, offering valuable insights into their past behavior and potential future implications. Reflecting on the tragic narrative revealed by the prehistoric remains and DNA evidence, Lieverse acknowledged the heartbreaking fate of the children who succumbed to the infectious disease, emphasizing the importance of preserving their story.
