"The Deadly Impact of Bacterial Diseases in the Stone Age"

A new study coordinated from the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm explores the prevalence of bacterial diseases during the Stone Age in Scandinavia, revealing that bacterial poisoning through food, water, and close contact caused significant suffering and fatalities. The research, which screened 38 individuals from different Stone Age contexts, identified microbes such as Neisseria meningitidis, Yersinia entrecolitica, and Salmonella enterica, all of which are easily treatable with antibiotics today. The study sheds light on the impact of lifestyle transitions, particularly the shift from hunting-gathering to farming, on the prevalence of bacterial diseases, offering new insights into a previously unexplored aspect of prehistoric societies.