Black Death

The oldest known plague cases were discovered in Siberian hunter-gatherer graves, challenging the theory that the disease was once mild. The outbreak occurred nearly 5,000 years before the Black Death.

Scientists discovered the oldest-known evidence of the plague, dating back 5,500 years, predating previous records by 200 years. The disease caused deadly outbreaks and contributed to the Black Death in the 14th century, and remains treatable with antibiotics today.

A new book challenges traditional narratives about the Black Death, suggesting a different account of the 14th-century plague outbreak. The work aims to re-examine the causes and consequences of the pestilence that devastated Europe.