Ancient DNA Reveals Roman-Era Migrant with Leprosy Buried in Germany
A recent study published in the journal iScience details the findings from a 1,500-year-old boat burial in northwestern Germany, specifically grave 265. The grave contains the remains of a man, approximately 50 years old, who died between 425 and 450 CE. DNA analysis of his remains has revealed two significant facts: he originated from the Danube region in the eastern Roman Empire, and he suffered from a rare form of leprosy. The burial site, Fallward, located near the North Sea coast, is a rich source of information from the Migration Period. The man's grave was elaborate, featuring a 13-foot-long oak boat, an ornate chair (referred to as a throne), a late Roman military belt, a stool with a hunting scene, a game board, a ceramic vessel, and a bronze basin. Dr. Hauke Jöns from the Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research noted the scientific interest in these grave goods, particularly the military belt, which suggested connections across great distances. The DNA analysis, conducted by Dr. Al...
