Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis, later causing the Black Death, triggered the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago.
They traced the deadly bacterium to its epicentre in Jerash, Jordan, for the first time.
Archaeologists discovered Yersinia pestis DNA in a mass grave beneath the city’s ancient ruins.
Lead author Rays HY Jiang said the findings provide the first direct genetic evidence of the pandemic.
The Deadly Reach of the Justinian Plague
The Justinian Plague began in 541 CE, spreading across the eastern Mediterranean and Byzantine Empire.
Historians estimate it killed 15 to 100 million people over two centuries of recurring outbreaks.
Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis caused the disease, the same bacterium behind the 1346 Black Death.
Fleas on rodents, especially rats near humans, spread the bacterium, while pneumonic transmission passed it between people.
DNA Sheds Light on Ancient Outbreak
Scientists analyzed eight teeth recovered from burial chambers beneath Jerash’s Roman hippodrome using advanced DNA techniques.
They discovered almost identical Yersinia pestis strains, confirming the bacterium’s presence between 550 and 660 AD.
Findings suggest a rapid, lethal outbreak, consistent with historical accounts of mass fatalities.
Jiang noted Jerash’s transformation from entertainment hub to mass cemetery shows urban centers likely became overwhelmed.
Plague Threat Persists Across Millennia
Studies show Yersinia pestis circulated among humans for millennia before the Justinian outbreak.
Later pandemics, including the Black Death and modern cases, emerged independently from animal reservoirs.
Jiang warned plague continues to evolve like COVID and will remain a persistent threat despite containment efforts.
