5,500 years ago, an invisible killer swept through Siberia—now scientists know its name 1

5,500 years ago, an invisible killer swept through Siberia—now scientists know its name

More than 5,500 years ago, a deadly plague swept through prehistoric communities in Siberia, leaving behind one of humanity’s oldest known epidemics. Ancient DNA extracted from human remains has now revealed the world’s earliest confirmed plague outbreak. The discovery challenges the belief that major diseases emerged only after the rise of cities and farming.