Ancient Graves Yield 200 Individuals

An archeogeneticist has analyzed skeletons from a mass grave in St. Pölten, Austria, dating back to the 14th century. Over 22,000 skeletons have been found at the site. The plague in the 14th century killed between 20 to 50 million people in Europe, representing one-third to half of the population. The analysis of plague victims from this period allows for comparison with modern populations. Researchers identified an immune gene that protects against the plague. Pölten, Austria, did not carry this gene in their DNA, which may explain the impact of the Black Death in Europe. This gene variant was present in the rest of the world during the Middle Ages, but was rare in Europe. Archaeologists have identified 200 individuals from ancient tombs dating between the years 450 and 700.