The Justinian Plague was the first pandemic in world history, spanning 541-750 CE. The previously unidentified pathogen unleashed massive destruction on the Byzantine Empire, brining tens of millions to their graves. Among historians, debates surrounding the plague’s origins have been marred in controversy. Now, the age-old question can finally be put to rest.
Researchers at the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University made a groundbreaking discovery. Along with Indian and Australian colleagues, they recovered Yersinia Pestis microbes from Jerash, Jordan. This city sits near the location historians have marked as the plague’s epicenter. Thus, publications from USF and FAU now claim Y. Pestis caused the world’s first pandemic.
What Were the Researchers’ Key Findings about Plague?
The new findings provide the first concrete evidence of the pathogen behind the Justinian Plague. The pathogen broke out in the Eastern Mediterranean over 1,500 years ago. Since then, historians have relied on written accounts to speculate its origins. Now, definitive genetic evidence proves that Y. Pestis was the primary driver of the ancient pandemic.
Prior research identified Y. Pestis in small villages of Western Europe. However, this finding is the first to locate the pathogen within the Byzantine Empire itself. Rooms for burial beneath what was once a Roman hippodrome–a horse racing arena–held the evidence. Teeth from human remains in the underground chambers held genetic traces of Y. Pestis.
Researchers hypothesize a rapid and deadly outbreak of plague caused these deaths. Recovered strains of Y. Pestis from the site were almost perfect matches with each other.
A related study led by the same universities shows this was not a one-off incident. Analysis of hundreds of pathogenic genomes shows the bacteria was already in circulation. After thousands of years of infections, an especially hard outbreak hit the Byzantine Empire.
The companion study also clarified that plague outbreaks do not share one common ancestral strain. Rather, different variants of Y. Pestis emerge in distinct time periods and locations throughout history. It is easy to think of pandemics as one-time major events. Yet, this research encourages a more nuanced perspective based on human activity and dynamic environmental factors.
How Did Researchers Derive New Conclusions about Plague?
Researchers collected material from the Jerash site. Then, they used genetic sequencing to identify specific pathogens. Results showed the prevalence of Y. Pestis among the nine recovered tooth samples.
Comparison of the genetic material with other Y. Pestis genomes showed their variety and wide spread. Future research will see investigations in Venice, Italy, and the Lazaretto Vecchio. The latter served as a quarantine island and holds a notable burial site. USF holds over 1,200 from this location.
Based on archaeological and historical evidence, researchers identified why Jerash was a hub for plague. “[Its] civic infrastructure–including aqueducts, baths, granaries, and amphitheaters–facilitated not only the flow of goods and people but also, inadvertently, pathogens,” the authors wrote. Cities like Jerash were communal hubs of the ancient world, and so disease easily spread in their crowded, dirty living conditions.
The study also noted how the burial site at Jerash clarified ancient public responses to outbreaks. Officials used architecture designed for entertainment to bury the rapidly accumulating dead. This improvisational tactic reflects how plague overwhelmed their infrastructure and medicinal capabilities.
Conclusion
Recent research revealed genetic evidence of pathogen behind the Justinian Plague. Yersinia Pestis DNA lingered in a mass grave located in Jerash, Jordan. The finding provides genetic proof of plague in the Byzantine Empire, while providing new insights into the disease.
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Logan Hamilton is a health and wellness freelance writer for hire. He’s passionate about crafting crystal-clear, captivating, and credible content that elevates brands and establishes trust. When not writing, Logan can be found hiking, sticking his nose in bizarre books, or playing drums in a local rock band. Find him at loganjameshamilton.com.
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