Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis, the Black Death pathogen, caused the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago.
They identified the bacterium in a mass grave beneath the ruins of Jerash in Jordan.
How the Justinian Plague Emerged
The Justinian Plague began in 541 CE and spread through the Byzantine Empire.
Historians estimate the pandemic killed between 15 and 100 million people over two centuries.
Scientists revealed Yersinia pestis spread mainly through flea-infested rodents and sometimes passed directly between humans.
DNA Unlocks the Mystery
Researchers studied eight teeth from burial chambers beneath Jerash’s ancient Roman hippodrome.
DNA evidence confirmed the plague bacterium struck the empire between 550 and 660 AD.
Findings revealed a rapid, lethal outbreak, aligning with historical records of mass deaths.
Lessons from Jerash
Lead author Rays HY Jiang said the site shows how ancient societies managed public health disasters.
A hippodrome once built for civic pride turned into a mass grave during the crisis.
The discovery highlights how urban centers collapsed under overwhelming outbreaks.
Plague’s Ongoing Threat
Another study showed Yersinia pestis circulated in humans long before the Justinian pandemic.
It also revealed later outbreaks, including the Black Death, arose independently from animal reservoirs.
Jiang warned plague remains active today, evolving like COVID, and cannot be eradicated.
