New Genetic Research Explores the Role of Plague in the Neolithic Population Decline of Scandinavia

The Potential Impact of Yersinia pestis in Scandinavia

Approximately 5,300 years ago, the populations of Scandinavia and northwestern Europe faced a significant collapse. Settlements were abandoned, and farming communities disappeared. The cause of this demographic shift has puzzled scholars, with theories ranging from agricultural crises to conflicts. However, recent genetic research published in Nature¹ offers another possibility: the ancient plague bacterium Yersinia pestis.