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The plague made people centenarians

18.09.2012

Since 2003, anthropologist Sharon de Witte has been studying the medieval assassin who killed 30% of Europeans and nearly half of Londoners between 1347 and 1351. She is one of the few scientists dedicated to deciphering the ancient plague. She obtains evidence for her research using skeletal remains. One of the results obtained by her is the influence of a terrible disease on the further evolution of man.

Sharon analyzed more than 600 skeletons of people who died during the plague and after, as well as about 300 people who lived in the 70th-50th centuries, before the era of the plague. Comparing the life expectancy of people before and after the epidemic, she found that the difference was truly dramatic. A significant number of people began to live to a deep, at that time, old age - XNUMX years, while earlier death overtook them at about XNUMX years of age.

In her research, Sharon relied on the main indicators by which one can judge the general state of health of people who lived many centuries ago. Porous lesions inside the eye sockets and the top of the skull are indicative of anemia, which is the body's standard response to fighting off scurvy or infections. Anemia also develops from excessive labor and constant hunger. Small horizontal grooves in the teeth of children also indicate malnutrition or, again, an infectious disease. These defects persisted into adulthood; they can be used to learn about the time when a person had health problems.

Sharon de Witte attributes longevity to two main factors: the selectivity of the infection towards those who were already in poor health - that is, the weakest died more often, and the subsequent improvement in living standards - medical care, hygiene and nutrition. Many people survived the plague because they were initially healthier. These healthy genes they passed on to their descendants. Also, the reason for longevity was the fact that after the plague epidemics, the number of people sharply decreased, and social competition became not so sharp. Survivors from all social strata began to live better, earn more and get better food, which positively affected their health and lengthened their lives. So, to some extent, the plague turned out to be a benefactor for humanity as a whole.

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