Sexually transmitted diseases existed in ancient times
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 86/100
Archaeological and paleogenomic studies confirm that sexually transmitted and treponemal diseases were present in human populations during ancient and historical times.
Evidence for · 4
Ancient Bacterial Genomes Reveal a High Diversity of Treponema pallidum Strains in Early Modern Europe.
2020 · cited by 47
Genetic analysis of human remains shows a diversity of Treponema pallidum strains present in Europe during the early modern period.
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More for · 3
A treponemal genome from an historic plague victim supports a recent emergence of yaws and its presence in 15<sup>th</sup> century Europe.
2020 · cited by 35
Archaeological evidence from historic plague victims confirms the presence of treponemal disease strains in 15th-century Europe.
The spatiotemporal distribution of human pathogens in ancient Eurasia.
2025 · cited by 15
Broad archaeogenetic mapping demonstrates the widespread presence of various ancient bacterial and pathogen DNA across thousands of years of human history.
Ancient genomes reveal a deep history of Treponema pallidum in the Americas.
2025 · cited by 8
Genomic analysis of pre- and peri-contact ancient specimens explores the deep evolutionary history and presence of treponemal infections in ancient populations.