Scientists have discovered an ancient bacteria in a sheep’s tooth from a Bronze Age settlement. This bacteria is related to the one that caused deadly plagues like the Black Death. Studying diseases like plague involves looking at both ancient humans and animals. Many diseases, including plague, originated in settlements where people and animals lived close together.
The bacteria that causes the plague, Yersinia pestis, has been studied in human remains, but not much in other species. The bacteria likely originated in Eurasia around 3,800 years ago due to the close interactions between humans and animals. Evidence suggests that early outbreaks of plague occurred without fleas spreading it.
Researchers found traces of this ancient plague in a sheep, which is a unique discovery. This helps us understand how the disease spread in ancient times. Studying ancient diseases can provide insight into their evolution and potential threats to public health today. The study has not yet been reviewed by other scientists but is available for further research.
Vocabulary List:
Bacteria /bækˈtɪə.ri.ə/ (noun): Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent organisms or as parasites.
Settlement /ˈsɛtəlmənt/ (noun): A community or group of people living in a new area.
Outbreak /ˈaʊtˌbreɪk/ (noun): A sudden occurrence of a disease in a particular time and place.
Evolution /ˌiːvəˈluːʃən/ (noun): The process of gradual development in living organisms.
Plague /pleɪɡ/ (noun): An infectious bacterial disease characterized by high mortality.
Insight /ˈɪn.saɪt/ (noun): The capacity to gain an accurate understanding of someone or something.
