5,500 Years Ago, Something Was Killing Humans in Prehistoric Siberia -- New Research Has Finally Revealed This Ancient Assassin

The Debrief ^ | June 21, 2026 | Micah Hanks

[SunkenCiv]

A longstanding archaeological mystery has loomed over discoveries at ancient burial sites in eastern Siberia: why were so many children and adolescents among the dead?

Now, according to a recent study in the journal Nature, DNA recovered from human remains found in burial sites at four cemeteries near Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia may finally reveal the answer.

Thousands of years ago, prior to the rise of ancient medieval cities -- and their often-rat-infested streets -- a disease famously associated with these rodents had already ravaged communities of prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

The research, based on reconstructions of ancient bacterial genomes preserved in the teeth of these ancient Siberians, revealed the presence of previously unknown strains of Yersinia pestis -- the bacteria responsible for plague -- providing fresh evidence that the lethal disease was already manifesting and killing human populations at least as far back as 5,500 years ago.

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TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: bronzeage; godsgravesglyphs; siberia; yersiniapestis

[SunkenCiv]

Ancient Siberian graves have long harbored a deadly secret

Image Credit: Vladimiri Bazaliiskii

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for the link!

[Red Badger]

It has been postulated that The Bubonic Plague actually came from China...............Some things never change........

[T.B. Yoits]

[KarlInOhio]

Hopefully the Wuhan lab isn’t storing samples.

[BenLurkin]

Makes my back hurt just to look at it.

[SunkenCiv]

selections from the Yersinia Pestis keyword, sorted:

• A 4,000-year-old sheep may reveal how the Bronze Age plague spread across Eurasia [01/21/2026]
• Repeated plague infections across six generations of Neolithic Farmers [11/16/2024]
• Austria's Oldest Bronze Age Plague Victims Identified [06/25/2023]
• Pathogens Detected in Bronze Age Remains in Greece [08/14/2022]
• A 5,000-year-old hunter-gatherer already plagued by Yersinia pestis (Yersinia pestis is discovered in a 5,000-year-old hunter-gatherer from Latvia) [06/30/2021]
• How did the plague reshape Bronze Age Europe? [05/20/2020]
• Did a new form of plague destroy Europe's Stone Age societies? [06/13/2019]

[Texas Eagle]

Anthony Fausci released the following statement: “Amateurs”.

[SunkenCiv]

• Origins Of The Black Death Traced Back To China, Gene Sequencing Has Revealed; A Plague That Killed Over a Third of Europe's Population [02/27/2020]
• Bubonic Plague Traced To Ancient Egypt (Black Death) [03/11/2004]

[Veto!]

a long time ago, I was absolute;l fascinated with Siberia and that lake. forget why.

Now I’m interested again.

siberians have shamans, I think, sort of the big daddies of the tribes,, allegedly magical powers. after I eat dinner, which is coming up soon, I’ll give it some thought.

[BitWielder1]

Should have domesticated cats.

[READINABLUESTATE]

“It was the salmon mousse”

[Bob434]

[[after I eat dinner, which is coming up soon]]

Sorry to hear you’re sick to your stomwch

[rlmorel]

Hahahahahaha!

"Shut up, you American! You always talk, you Americans. You talk and you talk and you say, "Let me tell you something" and "I just wanna say this". Well, you're dead now, so shut up!"

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Its 2500 BC, your and all the clans have killed off the Mammoths, and you are hungry and have to eat. Your clan turns to the flea infested local rats and Marmots! You become Sick. You Die! (Yes, it is sad for the young girl!)

Prairie Dog Recipes

As the author notes:"Seeing as PD's can carry the plague you may want to substitute with your other favorite meat!"

( We are Fortunate to have science that has demonstrated that there are some animals people should not really use as food, or as pets! )

[dfwgator]

Even Siberia goes through the motions

[Veto!]

did I really say hat? ? You’re really quick. LMAO

[BiteYourSelf]

Should’ve had the lasagna.😏