Medieval Parchment DNA Traces Sheep Pox Virus Back 3,500 Years

Researchers analyzed genetic material preserved in the skins used to make medieval manuscripts, uncovering traces of the sheep pox virus. The findings push back the known history of this pathogen by thousands of years, showing it infected livestock across Eurasia long before written records. The study highlights how ancient DNA from everyday objects can illuminate the deep history of diseases that continue to affect animals today.