Scientists have unraveled a longstanding enigma concerning the burial of numerous deceased children by ancient hunter-gatherers in Russia 5,500 years ago. The mystery was clarified when it was revealed that the children fell victim to an early outbreak of the plague, shedding new light on the disease.
A recent study published in Nature by an international team of scientists, including Canadians, disclosed that Yersinia pestis, the bacterium notorious for causing the Black Death in 14th-century Europe, exhibited lethal effects on humans millennia prior to that catastrophic event.
Moreover, the study highlighted the capability of the plague to spread among hunter-gatherer societies, not limited to densely populated settlements that emerged later on.
Lead author of the study, Ruairidh Macleod, a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford University, expressed astonishment at the early evidence of widespread fatal plague outbreaks among these ancient communities.
For decades, Andrzej Weber, an anthropology professor at the University of Alberta, and Angela Lieverse, an archaeology professor at the University of Saskatchewan, have been studying remains from a prehistoric hunter-gatherer society near Lake Baikal in Russia. Their research revealed that a significant portion of the individuals buried at the archaeological site were children under 12 years old, a highly unusual finding that previously lacked a satisfactory explanation.
Analyzing human bones to determine age, biological sex, and signs of diseases, Lieverse, specializing in bone studies, noted that infectious diseases like the plague tend not to leave traces in bones due to their rapid fatality compared to slower-developing ailments such as malnutrition or tuberculosis.
Collaborating with Macleod, an ancient DNA specialist, the team’s discovery of the plague bacterium sparked new insights. The plague, endemic in the region today and carried by marmots, large rodents consumed by the hunter-gatherers, had a significant impact on the ancient communities.
Genetic analysis unveiled a “superantigen” in the deadly plague strain, explaining its severe impact on children, triggering inflammatory complications akin to Kawasaki syndrome, especially affecting children due to their distinct immune systems.
The plague strain identified lacked the genes necessary for flea-borne transmission, distinguishing it from the bubonic plague strain that spread through fleas.
The study challenged previous assumptions by revealing human-to-human transmission during the Lake Baikal outbreak, affecting numerous family groups and implying a tragic impact on the children within these communities.
The researchers emphasized the importance of understanding the evolution and implications of deadly pathogens like the plague based on historical evidence. Lieverse articulated the poignant narrative conveyed by the prehistoric remains and DNA evidence, underscoring the significance of recounting the story of these young victims affected by the ancient plague outbreak.