Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis, later behind the Black Death, caused the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago.
They traced the deadly bacterium to its epicentre for the first time.
Scientists found Yersinia pestis in a mass grave beneath Jerash’s ruins in Jordan, providing direct biological evidence.
Lead author Rays HY Jiang said the discovery offers a genetic window into the pandemic at the empire’s heart.
Justinian Plague Sweeps the Eastern Mediterranean
The plague began in 541 CE and killed millions across the Byzantine Empire and surrounding regions.
Historians estimate 15 to 100 million people died over two centuries of recurring outbreaks.
Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis caused the pandemic, the same bacterium behind later epidemics, including the Black Death.
The bacterium spreads via fleas on rodents and can transmit directly between humans in pneumonic form.
DNA Reveals Ancient Outbreak
Scientists analyzed eight human teeth from Jerash’s Roman hippodrome burial chambers using advanced DNA techniques.
They discovered almost identical Yersinia pestis strains, confirming the bacterium’s presence between 550 and 660 AD.
Findings indicate a rapid, lethal outbreak, consistent with historical accounts of mass fatalities.
Jiang noted Jerash, a major trade hub, became a mass cemetery, showing urban centers likely became overwhelmed.
Plague’s Long-Term Presence
Related research shows Yersinia pestis circulated among humans for millennia before Justinian’s outbreak.
Later pandemics, including the Black Death and modern cases, emerged independently from animal reservoirs.
Jiang warned plague evolves constantly, like COVID, and containment cannot fully eliminate the threat.
He emphasized the danger persists, and humans must remain vigilant against future outbreaks.
