Mass grave in Jordan sheds new light on world’s earliest recorded pandemic

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Richard Luscombe in MiamiJanuary 31, 2026 at 12:00 PM

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medium article 3 min

A US-led research team has verified a mass grave in Jerash, Jordan, providing new insights into the Plague of Justinian, which devastated the Byzantine Empire from 541 to 750 AD. DNA analysis of bodies from the grave, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, confirms it was a single mortuary event, indicating a crisis situation rather than a typical cemetery. Researchers identified Yersinia pestis, the microbe causing the plague, and examined the victims' demographics and lifestyles. The findings reveal a diverse, mobile population was affected, highlighting the pandemic's social impact on a regional trade hub. By linking biological evidence with the archaeological context, the study emphasizes how pandemics are lived human experiences shaped by travel, environmental change, and population density.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

University of Sydney 40% Florida Atlantic University 50% Byzantine Empire 60% University of South Florida ×260% Yersinia pestis 70% United States 70% Jordan ×280% Rays Jiang ×380% Jerash ×590% Plague of Justinian 90%

Keywords

pandemic 100% mass grave 90% plague of justinian 80% yersinia pestis 70% jerash 70% dna 60% byzantine empire 50% mobility 50% archaeological science 40%