[gusopol3]

What’s your guess about the persistence of viral pathogens in an archaeologic site ? Just a few days at most? (I mean from the time of burial, like small pox)

[Wonder Warthog]

"Just a few days at most? (I mean from the time of burial, like small pox)

I believe I have seen articles of flu virii being recovered from bodies that died in the 1918 flu pandemic. These bodies were recovered from Alaskan burial sites, so the longevity results may not reflect other geographical locations.

[neverdem]

What’s your guess about the persistence of viral pathogens in an archaeologic site ? Just a few days at most? (I mean from the time of burial, like small pox)

Not being a virologist, I have to wonder. Usually, they are just a genetic core of DNA or RNA covered by a capsid of glycoprotein. They might be able to persist indefinitely. The only thing they have to do is reproduce. That's why they hijack their host's genetic "machinery." They don't need energy to do any cellular housework of their own.