Archaeologists Shed Light on World's Earliest Recorded Pandemic in Jordan Mass Grave
The discovery of a mass grave in Jerash, Jordan, has provided unprecedented insights into the world's earliest recorded pandemic. According to researchers, the site represents a single mortuary event, rather than the gradual growth of a traditional cemetery. This finding is significant as it offers a rare window into the lives of people affected by the plague that swept through the Byzantine Empire between 541 and 750 AD.
DNA extracted from teeth at the mass grave has confirmed that the victims were infected with Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague. The researchers, led by associate professor Rays Jiang, have uncovered a diverse demographic range of victims, including men, women, old and young individuals, and people in their prime, as well as teenagers.
The findings suggest that the victims were brought together by crisis, rather than by choice, highlighting the devastating impact of the pandemic on densely populated cities shaped by travel and environmental change. The researchers have noted parallels between this ancient pandemic and modern-day pandemics, such as COVID-19.
By analyzing DNA from teeth, the team has been able to link biological evidence to the archaeological setting, providing a more nuanced understanding of how disease affected people within their social and environmental context. This research has exposed other parallels with modern pandemics, dismissing long-held theories that dismissed the severity of previous outbreaks.
The discovery in Jerash serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of pandemics throughout history, highlighting the need for continued research into the lives of those affected by these events. As Jiang noted, "Pandemics aren't just biological events; they're social events."
The discovery of a mass grave in Jerash, Jordan, has provided unprecedented insights into the world's earliest recorded pandemic. According to researchers, the site represents a single mortuary event, rather than the gradual growth of a traditional cemetery. This finding is significant as it offers a rare window into the lives of people affected by the plague that swept through the Byzantine Empire between 541 and 750 AD.
DNA extracted from teeth at the mass grave has confirmed that the victims were infected with Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague. The researchers, led by associate professor Rays Jiang, have uncovered a diverse demographic range of victims, including men, women, old and young individuals, and people in their prime, as well as teenagers.
The findings suggest that the victims were brought together by crisis, rather than by choice, highlighting the devastating impact of the pandemic on densely populated cities shaped by travel and environmental change. The researchers have noted parallels between this ancient pandemic and modern-day pandemics, such as COVID-19.
By analyzing DNA from teeth, the team has been able to link biological evidence to the archaeological setting, providing a more nuanced understanding of how disease affected people within their social and environmental context. This research has exposed other parallels with modern pandemics, dismissing long-held theories that dismissed the severity of previous outbreaks.
The discovery in Jerash serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of pandemics throughout history, highlighting the need for continued research into the lives of those affected by these events. As Jiang noted, "Pandemics aren't just biological events; they're social events."
! I mean, to think that we can actually learn so much about what happened back then and how it compares to modern-day pandemics... it's like, whoa. And the fact that they were able to link DNA from teeth to the archaeological setting is just crazy 
! It's wild to think that there are still so many parallels between the past and present when it comes to pandemics. I'm not gonna lie, though - it can be kinda sobering to see how people lived back then, struggling with disease like that 
. But hey, research is all about shedding light on the dark stuff, right? And if it helps us better understand how to deal with pandemics in the future... then I'm all for it 
!
. And yeah, it makes sense that the victims were brought together by crisis rather than choice. I've always thought that pandemics would be like something out of a movie, but this ancient pandemic was way more real-life 
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. It just goes to show that some things never change, right? And I love what Rays Jiang said about pandemics being social events... it's so true 
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also why did people live in cities back then if it was so deadly 
. This pandemic discovery, it's crazy how it relates to today... I mean, COVID-19 and all that, but also the fact that it was ancient, yet still so relevant. It makes me wonder, do our societies have changed that much or are we just more aware of what we're dealing with now? 
. Researchers are saying it's super contagious and could potentially spread to other parts of the world. Meanwhile, climate change is still wreaking havoc on ecosystems around the globe 
. Just when you think things can't get worse, a mass grave in Jordan reveals that the plague was way more devastating than we thought, with DNA showing that victims were from all walks of life 
. What I find really interesting is how the victims were all brought together by this crisis, rather than choosing to be buried in a mass grave 
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. And I love what Rays Jiang said about pandemics being "social events" - totally agree with that 
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I'm literally DYING over this discovery in Jerash, Jordan!!! 
. I mean, can you believe that archaeologists have finally found proof of what caused the plague that hit the Byzantine Empire so long ago? 
. And now we're seeing parallels between this ancient pandemic and modern-day pandemics like COVID-19... it's a bit unsettling 
. We need to learn from history, you know? 
! Like, can you even imagine living through something like that? 
The whole "pandemics aren't just biological events; they're social events" thing is SO true 
! 
totally resonating with me. let's keep learning from history and work together to make our world a healthier one 
this mass grave in jerash jordan is giving me major nostalgia for my grandma's old stories about her childhood in china 
️ the fact that dna from teeth was used to confirm yersinia pestis is crazy 
like who knew ppl could extract dna from ancient teeth?!? and rays Jiang's quote 'pandemics aren't just biological events; they're social events' is so true 
. i mean, who knew our ancestors had to deal with the plague too? 
I can only imagine how tough it must've been to lose loved ones in such a devastating way... thousands of years ago 
. I'm loving how the researchers are drawing parallels between ancient and modern pandemics - it's like we're seeing history come alive again 
. It's crazy to think that some of the same social dynamics are at play, even thousands of years later. But can we get a way for us netizens to explore these sites without having to physically travel? That'd be a major win in my book 
. I mean, who knew that ancient civilizations were already dealing with pandemics? It's wild to think that the plague was affecting people back then too, and not just limited to more recent times like COVID-19 
. The idea that pandemics aren't just biological events, but social events too