Strains of the ancient mayor discovered in 5,000-year-old Swedish kettles – Discoveries – Science

The discovery could indicate that this bacterium has already been affected by old settlements in Europe at the end of the Stone Age and perhaps at the origin of the first major pandemic of the 39th century. history of humanity.

Scientists discovered the bacterial strains found in the badysis of publicly available anti-DNA databases, which included people who may have died as a result of the infection, according to a study published in the journal Cell. Scientists paid particular attention to the oldest excavation site in Sweden, where were buried the remains of about 78 people. All these people had died in a period of 200 years.

"The fact that so many people died in a relatively short time may indicate that they were affected by the epidemic." The limestone gravestones, in turn, are made in the New Age era. Stone, or Neolithic, at the time of the beginning of agriculture, "said Nicolás Rascovan, author of the study.

Measured strains were found in the remains of a woman buried in the cemetery. With the carbon dating method, it was discovered that she had died around 4,900 years ago, about 20 years ago.

As a result of genetic mutations, bacterial strains have developed such that the ability to cause pneumocarcinoma – the most lethal form of historical and modern measures. The woman, presumably, died directly.

By comparing the newly discovered strains with already known samples of measles DNA, the researchers concluded that the old strains are the closest relatives of the modern mayor. The researchers also hypothesized that these strains were separated from other measles strains around 5700 years ago.