Plague Reappeared Across Europe for Centuries After Black Death, Ancient DNA Shows
Ancient DNA from Yersinia pestis indicates that plague returned to Europe for more than 350 years after the Black Death. Researchers analyzed 26 newly sequenced genomes from 11 archaeological sites and reassessed 64 previously published genomes, for a total of 75. The results suggest different genetic lineages appeared in different parts of Europe over time instead of one lineage persisting in a single location.
Scientists examined ancient bacterial DNA to trace how plague persisted long after the Black Death. The team added 26 newly sequenced Yersinia pestis genomes from 11 archaeological sites and reexamined 64 published genomes, creating a set of 75.
Each genome could be linked, though tentatively, to known outbreaks. Rather than a single lineage lingering in one region, the data point to multiple genetic lineages emerging in different European areas at different times. The work was published in PNAS by researchers based at the University of Tartu and partner institutions.
This research may deepen public understanding of how infectious diseases can recur and spread through changing populations. Historians, archaeologists, and public-health researchers could use such genomic reconstructions to study past transmission patterns, perhaps informing how modern outbreaks are interpreted. Museums and educators may also incorporate these findings into narratives about epidemics. It does not directly affect current medical treatment, but it may shape how society remembers and prepares for long-term disease risks.