Scientists confirmed Yersinia pestis caused the Justinian Plague, the earliest recorded pandemic, 1,500 years ago.
Researchers located the bacterium’s epicenter for the first time, solving a long-standing historical mystery.
Unearthing Biological Evidence in Jordan
Researchers discovered Yersinia pestis traces in a mass grave beneath Jerash’s ancient ruins in Jordan.
DNA analysis of human teeth provided the first direct biological proof of the plague’s presence in the empire.
“For centuries, we relied only on written descriptions without biological evidence,” said study lead Rays HY Jiang.
Jiang emphasized that the findings offer a genetic window into how the pandemic unfolded at the empire’s heart.
How the Justinian Plague Devastated the Empire
The Justinian Plague began in 541 CE and swept through the Byzantine Empire and the eastern Mediterranean.
Historians estimate it killed between 15 and 100 million people during recurring outbreaks over two centuries.
Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis, later behind the Black Death, spread through fleas on rats and direct contact.
Advanced DNA Techniques Unlock 1,500-Year Mystery
An interdisciplinary team from USF and Florida Atlantic University examined eight teeth from Jerash burials.
Genetic evidence showed victims carried nearly identical strains, suggesting a rapid, catastrophic outbreak.
“The Jerash site reveals how ancient cities struggled during health crises,” Jiang explained.
A related study revealed plague circulated for millennia and new strains emerged from animal reservoirs, not one source.
“We’ve battled plague for thousands of years, and people still die from it today,” Jiang added.
He warned the bacterium continues to evolve like COVID, making permanent eradication impossible.
